July 24, 1936 – September 23, 2025
Lothar (Lo) Estenfelder passed away on 9/23/25. Lo was born on July 24 1936 in the Allgaeu region of Southern Bavaria, Germany. He came to this country in 1958, persuaded by his sister Hansi Platts, who had married a Boulder native. Being able to call Colorado home had special appeal for the avid skier and mountain climber. Lo enrolled at CU, where he lettered in soccer, but regretted having to yield to several constraints ending his passion for flying glider planes. The picture shows 20-year old Lothar on the summit of Zinal-Rothorn in Switzerland. The Matterhorn, an earlier conquest, is in the distance.
Upon graduation with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from CU Boulder, Lo joined Gates Rubber Company in 1961. Gates’ then well published intentions to expand internationally was a key attraction. Lo was assigned to Gates’ newly created European headquarters in Brussels in 1964 in pioneering product and market management positions. He fell in love with the executive secretary of a successful Import-Export group, Hannelore Neumann. They got married in Brussels in 1969, after a four-year court-ship, just prior to their move back to Denver.
Lo’s advance into the top management ranks came in 1972 as General Manager of Gates Venezuela, based in Valencia. Lo credited Hannelore for her adaptability, dedication and support in what developed into a successful career in international business. Lo’s and Hannelore’s fluency in five languages were immense assets in Lo’s daily work, while international moves became memorable adventures. Daughter Nicole was born in Caracas on Christmas Eve 1974, shortly before the family’s move to Sao Paulo, Brazil, Lo’s next challenge as President of then struggling Gates do Brasil. At the end of 1979 the family returned to Denver when Lo’s success in Latin America was rewarded with the promotion to President of Gates International. He joined the Gates Board. The family settled in Cherry Hills Village, the family home ever since.
In Denver Lo contributed to Gates’ corporate commitment on community support. He served on his alma mater CU’s “Engineering Development Council”, Advisory Boards at DU, IIE among others. In 1984 Lo was appointed Honorary Consul of Belgium for Colorado by King Baudouin and later was knighted by King Albert II (“Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Couronne”). He was a founding member of the Denver World Trade Center and proud of his appointment by President Reagan as Chairman of the Rocky Mountain Export Council. Lo participated at the annual Davos Economic Forum for over 10 years, which facilitated beneficial contacts with top decision makers and heads of state.
Under Lo’s leadership, with support from exceptional mentors including the entrepreneurial genius of the late Charles Gates, the company evolved from an internationally unknown rubber company to become undisputed leader and innovator worldwide in its industry. Sales companies, warehouses and manufacturing plants were established throughout the world to best serve local markets.
Lo’s 36 year career with Gates ended in 1997, shortly after the Gates family sold the company to British investors. Drawing on his vast business experience, Lo turned to investments. Among others he founded Denco SCI, a property management company, based in Cannes, France, just down the hills from the family’s new second residence in Mougins. This added a very pleasurable component to the financial rewards. Lo called the 15 years of split residence between Colorado and the South of France the happiest years of his life.
Lo is survived by his wife Hannelore, daughter Nicole, grandson Nicholas Calandro, sister Sigrid Mair of Mindelheim, Bavaria and godchildren Alexander and Katharina Striebel of Augsburg, Germany. At Lo’s request services will be limited to the immediate family.