Louis Torres

Louis Torres

June 29, 1921-April 26, 2017

Louis Torres died peacefully at Julia Temple Healthcare Center in Englewood, Colorado on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 at the age of 95. 

Lou was born in New York City on June 29, 1921.  The third and last child of Italian immigrants, he developed a great love for American history.  He received his undergraduate degree in history at St. John’s University and Masters degrees in history at Columbia University and business administration at Hofstra College.

He started his career as a historian with the U.S. Air Force at Mitchell Field on Long Island after World War II during which he served as a sergeant with the US Army Air Force in Bermuda.  From there he went on to the job, which he often described “as the job I couldn’t wait to get to each day…” at Federal Hall National Memorial on Wall Street in Manhattan.  It was at this location where important events in our nation’s early history took place such as George Washington taking his first oath of office and the meeting of the nation’s first Congress.

In addition to Lou’s research on the architectural history of Federal Hall he had the opportunity to research the Old Custom House on Wall Street.  It was this work which aroused his interest in the marble industry in Eastchester, a town outside New York City.    After he became a resident of Eastchester in 1964 he said, “…the thought of the remains of the marble quarries being within walking distance” peaked his interest and, as a result, he researched and wrote “Tuckahoe Marble:  The Rise and Fall of an Industry, 1822-1920”.

A few years before the book was published in 1976, he and his wife, Evelyn, moved to Littleton, Colorado.  The move was prompted by a new position as a historian with the National Park Service. At that time, the National Park Service was gearing up for the celebration of the nation’s bicentennial and there was a great need for historians to record the nation’s history.

While with the National Park Service in Colorado Lou Torres researched and wrote or co-authored many histories including those about Cumberland Island National Seashore; Eleanor Roosevelt (Val-Kill) National Historic Site; Theodore Roosevelt National Park; and Fort Stanwix National Monument.  Later, after he retired from the National Park Service in 1981, he wrote a history for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers about the construction of the Washington Monument.

Lou Torres leaves behind his wife, Evelyn, of Denver; daughter Patricia Cronenberger and husband, Rick of Littleton; and son Louis Torres, Jr.  and wife Barbara, of Scotts Mills, Oregon. Grandchildren are Anne Torres, Nathan Torres and Andrew Cronenberger and wife, Brianna.

A family service will be held in August at Fort Logan National Cemetery.  Contributions in Lou’s memory may be made to the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association-Alzheimer’s Research, Chapter 1085, Alzheimer’s Association, 225 N. Michigan Avenue, 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601 or to Integrated Family Community Services, 3370 S. Irving Street, Englewood, CO 80110. 

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