Obituary of Jim Judd

Edmond James (Jim) Judd, born March 8, 1926, Denver, Colorado, third child of Sam and Lillian Judd, died December 26, 2024. Married to Eleanore, his beloved of 70 years who preceded him in death, and survived by children Joel Judd, Nancy Crawford and Ken (Wendy) Judd; grandchildren, Rachel (Dan) Dore, Lily Crawford and Hannah Crawford and three great grandchildren.

As a child on his architect-engineer father‘s knee, Jim learned to read construction plans as they were explained to clients. In high school he sold and delivered appliances until he graduated and joined the army. Returning from WW II service in the 10th Mountain Division in northern Italy, he helped reopen the war shuttered Teller House Hotel in Central City, serving as night manager. With his friend Pascal Quackenbush, he embarked upon ill-fated business ventures – ice delivery, wilderness outfitting – then completed his college education with an engineering degree in construction management at the University of Denver.

Prior to the service, Jim’s older brother Bill introduced him to skiing by pushing him off a Loveland Pass cornice saying – Might as well. The war will probably kill you anyway. Following the war, Jim joined the National Ski Patrol, spending weekends patrolling Loveland Ski Area. Later came many family trips to Taos Ski Valley followed by a much used second home at the edge of Vail. He continued to enjoy skiing until he was 83.

When Jim met Eleanore, it was love at first sight. They married and settled in Denver. Jim got down to the business of supporting his nascent family.  He apprenticed with the Denver carpenters union local for a short time, then embarked upon the building career that dominated the rest of his work life, incorporating Judd Construction Company. An uncle provided the first project, renovating the façade of his dry cleaner business. Next came the façade of the adjacent Bean Hotel. Still standing today, his roots in the building industry can be found throughout the Denver metro area.

Jim helped Ken Watson create Historic Denver and served on the founding board. In 1970 an Oregon restauranteur described his plan for a massive spaghetti restaurant in a historic, but dilapidated, building at 18th and Lawrence. After investigating, Jim persuaded the Denver Urban Renewal Authority to sell him the Denver City Cable Co. Building and he renovated the auto garage into a building that would house the Old Spaghetti Factory, with first class second floor office space.

He shared his construction knowledge as a dedicated volunteer throughout the community. He joined his wife and other families to create Rodef Shalom Synagogue. Chairing the building committee, they built the cinder structure at 400 S. Kearny. He was also involved with Masons and B’nai Brith, building projects for the Jewish Community Center and Allied Apartments for the Elderly, and chairing the building committee for the Feiner Family Memorial Chapel at Temple Emanuel. Rabbi Stanley Wagner drew him into the Center for Judaic Studies and Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society at the University of Denver.

Over the years Jim bought, in many cases restored, then sold, a variety of motor homes and vintage cars. A 1951 Rolls Royce Silver Wraith stands out.

Among all his accomplishments, none were more remarkable than the way he compassionately cared for friends and family in their time of need while building a foundation that would generously continue to serve future generations.

Contributions to the Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Denver or charity of your choice.

Funeral 10:00 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 2, 2025, Temple Emanuel Feiner Chapel.

Shiva to follow internment at Emanuel Cemetery at Fairmont, until 6 p.m. at 10315 East Weaver Circle in Englewood, CO., 80111.

Shiva service at 5:00 p.m.

Service will be livestreamed via the Feldman Mortuary YouTube Channel.