Virgil Jester

As Irv Moss of The Denver Post wrote: A chapter in Denver’s baseball history has closed. Virgil Jester, 88, died on Monday, February 15, 2016, in Arvada, Colorado, after a brave battle with congestive heart failure, lung cancer and pneumonia. Virgil was born and raised in North Denver, played baseball at North High School (class of 1946) and was a fixture in Denver baseball for many years. As part of Denver’s baseball history, Virgil played in The Denver Post Tournament that was an annual fixture at Merchants Park (pre Bears Stadium days). There he played against the legendary Hall of Famer Satchel Page. Virgil signed a contract with the Boston Braves in 1947. He was a popular home-town-boy player with the Denver Bears, the Braves Farm Team in the old Western League, in 1948 and 1949. Virgil then played on both Double A and Triple A teams until he was called up to the major leagues with the Braves, first in Boston in 1952 and then in Milwaukee in 1953. As a right-handed pitcher, his fastball reached speeds into the 90 mph range. During his major league years, Virgil played against other legends such as Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider. He recently recalled two high points of his MLB career. One was when he beat the Brooklyn Dodgers in the last game of the year in 1952, and the second was when he pitched a shutout earlier in that season against the Philadelphia Phillies. Virgil’s professional baseball career ended in 1959 when he again played for the Denver Bears in the Triple A-American Association. Virgil both coached and umpired baseball in the Denver area and was instrumental in getting many young people interested in the game, including those in his family. In his later years, Virgil never tired of talking about and watching baseball on TV. He was a popular resident at the care facility where he lived for the past 2 1/2 years and enjoyed signing baseballs and his official 1952/53 Braves picture for other residents, staff members and visitors on an almost daily basis. Up until the time of his death, Virgil was still receiving requests by mail for autographs from collectors interested in his time with the Braves. We have many priceless memories and records of the baseball stories he told over the years and lots of wonderful baseball paraphernalia.. He was a watcher of many sports on TV and, although not a diehard Broncos fan, he did enjoy watching them and took delight in their latest Super Bowl win. Virgil’s greatest accomplishment in life was being a loving father, grandfather and friend. He is survived by his 4 children and their spouses: Terri Fleischer, Randy Jester (Jan), Lori Blanchard (Jay), and Wendi Jester (Keith Mangrum), 5 grandchildren and their spouses: Peyton Petersen (Thomas), Jared Fleischer (Katie), Ryan Jester (Nicole), Brad Jester (Christa) and Amanda Gregg (Aaron), and by 11 great-grandchildren: Carter and Amelia Petersen, Brendan and Everett Fleischer, Jayden and Dylan Jester, Ella, Reese and Reagan Jester, and Logan and Ben Gregg. Virgil is also survived by former wife Marilyn Jester and numerous nieces and nephews. Virgil’s family would like to thank the staff at Colorado Lutheran Home in Arvada, Lutheran Hospice/Collier Hospice Center in Wheat Ridge, and the Oncologists and staff at the Red Rocks Cancer Treatment Center in Golden for their compassionate and loving care. At Virgil’s request, no services will be held. Donations may be made in his memory to The Denver Dumb Friends League or to Lutheran Hospice/Collier Hospice Center in Wheat Ridge. Rest in Peace Dad. You were one of the good guys and we will fondly remember your “Virgil-isms” always!