Kent and Caroline Rickenbaugh
Kent was six years old in 1944 when his father moved the family from Michigan to Colorado to purchase a car dealership and head regional distribution for the Cadillac Motor Car Division. At the age of 22, and with a business degree from Dartmouth, Kent returned to Denver to work in the family business. He worked in every department at Rickenbaugh Cadillac before becoming the dealership's owner and president in 1987.
When other dealerships moved south where the land was less expensive, Rickenbaugh Cadillac stayed downtown at 777 Broadway in what is now the heart of the Golden Triangle.
Kent worked to preserve Colorado landscapes as well as downtown Denver businesses. He served on the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust board, dedicated to preserving ranchland from development. In Denver, Kent sponsored 17 parks and a connecting trail system along the Platte River, plus he made substantial contributions to the Greenway Foundation to clean up the river.
In addition to his love for the outdoors, he had a love for his friends and family. In September 1962, Kent married his longtime friend, Caroline Berger, the daughter of Colorado National Bank President George B. Berger.
The couple felt it was essential to be involved in many aspects of life in Denver, not only through business but also through association with local charities like The 2% Club, the Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Country Club Caddie Scholarship Program. After decades of generous philanthropy, leadership, and volunteerism at Children’s, Caroline and Kent’s gift of $1.5 million in 1998 established Selby’s Chair in Pediatric Cardiology to honor their infant daughter Selby, who died in 1964 from cardiac complications.
When other dealerships moved south where the land was less expensive, Rickenbaugh Cadillac stayed downtown at 777 Broadway in what is now the heart of the Golden Triangle.
Kent worked to preserve Colorado landscapes as well as downtown Denver businesses. He served on the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust board, dedicated to preserving ranchland from development. In Denver, Kent sponsored 17 parks and a connecting trail system along the Platte River, plus he made substantial contributions to the Greenway Foundation to clean up the river.
In addition to his love for the outdoors, he had a love for his friends and family. In September 1962, Kent married his longtime friend, Caroline Berger, the daughter of Colorado National Bank President George B. Berger.
The couple felt it was essential to be involved in many aspects of life in Denver, not only through business but also through association with local charities like The 2% Club, the Denver Art Museum, and the Denver Country Club Caddie Scholarship Program. After decades of generous philanthropy, leadership, and volunteerism at Children’s, Caroline and Kent’s gift of $1.5 million in 1998 established Selby’s Chair in Pediatric Cardiology to honor their infant daughter Selby, who died in 1964 from cardiac complications.