Supporters of Father Woody’s Haven of Hope and loved ones of Jay Gould gathered at the Denver day shelter Nov. 12 to memorialize Gould, one of the shelter’s founders and longtime servant of Denver’s poor and homeless. Gould—who died Oct. 10 following a battle with lung cancer—was honored for his dedication by having his name added to the building at Seventh Avenue and Lipan Street: Father Woody’s Haven of Hope is now known as Father Woody’s Haven of Hope, Jay Gould Center.
“It’s a huge tribute to our wonderful beloved Jay who we miss every single day,” Melinda Paterson, executive director, said to the crowd of more than 100 gathered. “Jay, we love you.”
During the ceremony his widow, Marge Connor, pictured here center, was comforted by Paterson and Cheri Gallegos, who was also instrumental in the founding of the Haven of Hope. Gould is also survived by seven children and 22 grandchildren, many of whom attended the dedication and remain involved in supporting the center.
Gould was known to refer to the shelter as “the miracle of 707 Lipan Street.” He was one of three lay Franciscans who purchased and lived in a 900-square-foot house at 707 Lipan in 1998. There they served the poor by doing laundry, providing showers and haircuts, and offering breakfast and lunch. In 2007, a new 5,700-square-foot building, Haven of Hope, was opened next door to the small house and was named after long-time champion of the poor, Msgr. Charles Woodrich “Father Woody.” Today the shelter serves 300-plus for breakfast each day and 500 at lunch, among the many other services offered. For more information, visit www.frwoodyshavenofhope.org.
