Paul Edwin Goodspeed

Paul Goodspeed was born on May 8, 1943, in Michigan, the only child of novelist Iola Fuller. In his youth he divided his residences between Michigan and New Mexico, visiting in turn his father and mother.

He attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he obtained both his undergraduate degree and his law degree. As a law student he served as the Editor-In-Chief of the Michigan Law Review. He was also present when candidate John F. Kennedy proposed the idea of the Peace Corps during a campaign stop in Ann Arbor.

Following his graduation, he relocated to New York City, where he accepted a position in the law offices of Donovan Leisure. He greatly enjoyed the cultural life in Manhattan, and lived there until he met Julie Powers, who was to become his wife in 1970.

Paul and Julie relocated their young family to Denver in the early 1970s, where Paul formed the law offices of Coghill and Goodspeed. This firm remained his primary employment for the rest of his professional life, until his early retirement in the late 1990s.

During his multi-decade retirement, he enjoyed travelling with Julie, particularly on either cruise ships, or to various European destinations. He also read with enthusiasm, spending several hours a day reading contentedly, often while petting a cat at the same time. He was also a lifelong chess enthusiast and enjoyed studying, teaching, and playing the game. Julie and Paul remained happily married until her death in 2013.

In 2014, a year after the passing of his wife, Paul met and became the companion of Mary Poole, with whom he enjoyed eight years of close friendship, dining, and traveling until her death in 2022.

Paul Goodspeed passed away peacefully on February 3, 2026, at the age of 82, in Colorado. He leaves behind his daughter, Stacy Richards; three grandchildren, Jacob Krambeck, Kaylee Krambeck, and Emily Krambeck; and his son, Andrew Goodspeed, and Andrew’s wife, Silvishah Miftari Goodspeed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to one or both of Paul’s favorite local charities: Colorado Ballet (https://donate.coloradoballet.org/goodspeed) and Humane Colorado (https://humanecolorado.rallyup.com/paulgoodspeed/Campaign/Details).

The service will be on Monday, February 16, at 11 a.m. at Dignity Memorial (Olinger Chapel Hill), 6601 S Colorado Blvd in Centennial.