John Thomas Sharrah

John was born and raised in Denver, Colorado where his remarkable journey began. At the tender age of nine, he became a published author with a charming story featuring Disney characters venturing to Walt Disney World. His mother, recognizing his talent, reached out to Disney resulting in his first story being purchased by Walt Disney himself for an impressive $800 in 1956. This marked the launch of a comic book that showcased John’s extraordinary creativity.

John attended the University of Colorado and taught Greek and Roman history at CU. A true Renaissance man, John possessed deep curiosity, admirable intellect and a diverse range of talents. In his junior year, he discovered his passion for Taekwondo, quickly rising through the ranks to become the assistant instructor, then the head instructor at CU, ultimately earning his place as one of the country’s top competitors.

Beyond his intellectual pursuits and athletic accomplishments, John had a profound love for music, often entertaining friends with his performances of folk music on his classical guitar. He also spent hours crafting intricate pencil sketches, capturing fleeting moments to gift to others. His professional career included a significant stint in the hotel industry, where he was a manager and handled bookkeeping at the College Inn in Boulder. In 2000, John retired to fully immerse himself in his first love - writing science fiction, a passion that defined his legacy.

John’s imagination and memory were unparalleled; his stories were completely unique, reflecting his ability to conjure original storylines. A voracious reader, he could recall intricate details about virtually any topic, captivating those around him with his extensive knowledge. Even in his 70’s, he was a human Chat GPT 4, effortlessly sharing extensive details on a variety of subjects from memory.

John was an extraordinary person, a great friend, brother, and uncle. He was always positive and brought joy to everyone with his deep belly laugh, often punctuating conversations with elaborate puns and whimsical tales, especially in his holiday cards. He would painstakingly select books for his loved ones, writing beautiful letters to explain why each book was perfect for them. He never sought to impress; rather, his authenticity was truly inspirational. Even in brief exchanges, John had a way of making people feel special, and his unique spirit will be cherished by all who knew him.

John is survived by his brothers, Karl L. Sharrah and Glenn Savage; his sister, Cindy Swensen; five nephews, Karl T. Sharrah, Richard Sharrah, David Sharrah, Stephen Sharrah, and Tyler Swensen; and a niece, Nicole Swensen.

John was preceded in death by his parents Slim and Bing Sharrah.

In lieu of flowers or donations, please read one of John’s stories: The Acquisitors (1993), Greetings from Kudesh (2004), The Homecoming (2014), Malnutrition (2015), The Nult Factor ( 2016), The Light Fantastic ( 2018), A Message from Our Sponsor (2019), Forgetfulness (2019), the Book Keepers (2021), In Transit (2022), and Quickening (2023). These were published in the science fiction magazine “Analog”.

A Memorial of Life service for John will be held Thursday, May 29, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Howe Mortuary & Crematory, 439 Coffman Street, Longmont, Colorado.