It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Billy Grinstead, one of the founding members and long-time co-organizer of Rocky Mountain Naturist Club in Colorado, passed away yesterday morning following respiratory failure.
Billy had lived with breathing challenges for much of his adult life, and his health became increasingly fragile over the past two years after multiple bouts of pneumonia and COVID-19. While his health limited his ability to participate in club activities during the past year, his impact on our organization—and on the people who knew him—will be felt for many years to come.
I first met Billy in 2014 when he was the organizer of Mile High Nudists, a Denver-area Meetup group that introduced countless people to social nudism, including myself. Later, he became the leader of 5280 Nudists, another successful group that continued to grow until he decided to conclude the organization in 2019.
That same year, Billy and I decided to create something new together. In May 2019, we co-founded Rocky Mountain Naturist Club with the goal of building a welcoming, inclusive community where people could experience the joy of naturism in a friendly, respectful environment. Billy served as my co-organizer from the very beginning and remained in that role until declining health forced him to step back about a year ago.
Many of the traditions our members look forward to each year exist because of Billy’s creativity and enthusiasm. He introduced our annual Call-In-Sick-to-Work Pool Day celebration at Mountain Air Ranch each June, started our beloved Soup Party held each January, and was the driving force behind our Nude Bowling events. From securing the venue to organizing every detail, Billy made those gatherings possible, and they remain among our most popular events today.
But Billy was far more than an organizer.
He was someone who genuinely loved people. Whether you met him at one of our events or at Mountain Air Ranch, you were likely greeted with a warm smile and an easy conversation. Billy had a remarkable ability to make everyone feel welcome. He loved cooking, baking, sharing his famous pizzelle cookies with friends, and could happily spend hours talking about his favorite classic cars—especially his beloved 1962 Chevy Impala.
For me personally, Billy was much more than a co-founder. He was a trusted partner, a sounding board, and a dear friend. Together we dreamed about what Rocky Mountain Naturist Club could become, and we worked side by side to make those dreams a reality. Much of what our club is today was shaped by his ideas, his generosity, and his unwavering belief in building a community where everyone felt they belonged.
Although Billy is no longer with us, his legacy lives on every time members gather for one of the traditions he created, every time a new member is welcomed into our community, and every time friendships are formed at one of our events.
Thank you, Billy, for your friendship, your generosity, and everything you gave to Rocky Mountain Naturist Club. You helped build something truly special, and your memory will always be a part of our community.
You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten. 🪐
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