In the time that I’ve lived in Colorado I’ve had two best friends who I could always count on. One was Rick Barber who is mentioned throughout this Blog. The other was Dante Zarlengo.
Dante was an oil and gas attorney in the Denver law firm where Governor Dick Lamm practiced in the eighties. I had the good fortune to work as a legal secretary for that firm and was assigned to Dante because he was so tough…bad handwriting and demanding. My mother had horrible handwriting so I was able to decipher his. We hit it off, as I always had with my bosses, and built a long and very dear friendship. It was while working for Dante that I decided to start Bon Jour Matchmaking Service and make matchmaking my career. (Click on the link to go to Post)
Dante helped me with all of the legalities needed to set up a business at no charge. He was my friend, my supporter. He was a giver…a great father of 3 very successful sons, a supportive and devoted husband, a wonderful lawyer and loyal friend. Today is TEN years since his passing. I can’t believe it…I met Rick Barber from KOA radio shortly before Dante passed away and was supposed to attend the ClearChannel Christmas party with Rick that evening of December 5, 2003. I was not able to attend once I heard about Dante’s impending death.
But also today is the day Nelson Mandela left this earth so Dante is in good company. Of all the days of the year and the many months President Mandela was ill, he passed on the same day as my dear friend Dante Zarlengo. Dante died from lung cancer (he never smoked) eight months after being diagnosed. The American doctors proclaimed there was nothing they could do and gave him a prognosis of 2 to 5 years. So Dante tried an experimental treatment in Zurich. In my opinion that treatment hastened his death. But he fought until the very end tooth and nail. It was just his time. I sincerely hope that he found more happiness in his next life than he found in this one.
The Zarlengo family is well known in Denver with many professionals such as dentists, judges, attorneys, etc. It is a large Italian family with roots in Colorado.
I still miss Dante every day and feel blessed to have not only worked for and known this kind man, but also to call him my friend.
Bon Jour Matchmaking Service 
Thank you for your memories of Danny Zarlengo. He was my fraternity brother at the University of Denver, where we both graduated in 1969. I was so shocked when I heard of his passing. He died way too young. Danny had a Volkswagon beetle when in college, and yes, of course, we tried to fit as many guys as possible into that impossibly small car. He was a serious student and very mature even as a college kid. I remember him with a great deal of fondness.
Hi Jonathan…I only just saw this post of yours from 2017. Thank you for writing something. Next year will be 20 years since he died..I only knew him for 15 yrs…I think of him often as we used to talk every day.
Michelle,
I really appreciate your wonderful comments about my former law partner.
Tom Kimmell
20 years this year Tom. We will get together on December 5, 2023 to remember our friend Dante…