July 7, 1950 ~ Oct. 8, 2020
Henry (Hank) Coufos passed away on Oct. 8, 2020. after losing his 15-year battle with cancer. Hank was 70 years old. He was born in Orange, New Jersey, to Alex and Martha Coufos on July 7, 1950. Hank was preceded in death by his parents and his older brother, Jim Coufos. In 1972, Hank graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor’s Degree in agricultural engineering. Hank moved to Meeker, Colorado, in 1974, and lived in Meeker and then in the Grand Junction area for around 13 years before moving to California in 1987.
Hank spoke fondly of his memories in Meeker where he held various jobs including a stint running the Meeker Hotel, having an auto mechanic shop with his dear friend Ken Pelloni and of course the many years spent working at Northern Coal.
After moving to California, Hank settled in Northern California in the former gold rush town of Rough & Ready. Hank was a world-wide facility manager for the Grass Valley Group from 1990 until 2007. Prior to his retirement, Hank pursued his dream of planting a vineyard and opening a winery (Coufos Cellars). The winery was open for 15 years before closing in 2017. The vineyards were farmed by Hank up until his passing.
Hank is survived by his wife of 24 years, Janet Wheeling, (Rough & Ready); his three siblings Paul Coufos, Diane McCarthy and Lisa Gladney; his daughter Katie (Davon) Smith, granddaughter Kimber Smith and grandson Gage Smith of Meeker, Colorado.
A Celebration of Life will be planned in the town of Meeker during the summer of 2021.
