Philip G Montoya

He was born in Denver on October 29th, 1932. He attended Gilpin Elementary, Cole Junior High, and graduated from Manual High School in 1953. He served two years in the Army during the Korean Conflict, where he qualified for training in Radar technology. He then went to College on the GI Bill. He attended CU Boulder from 1954 to 1959, graduating with degrees in Electrical Engineering and Accounting. He later went to Ball State University, earning a Masters in Business Administration.

He was a devoted husband to Rebecca Montoya (the love of his life) for 66 years. They raised four beautiful daughters: Cristina, Monica, Ramona, and Elena. He had two grandchildren: August Keller and Marjorie Grace Keller, and one Son-In-Law, Kurt Keller. He was preceded in death by his Mother Lilly Cashmore Broorsma, father Raymond Montoya, and sisters Gloria Patterson and Josephine Klebak.

Phil started his career at Bethlehem Steel in San Francisco and Hewlett Packard in Burbank, CA. He later worked with the Navy at Pearl Harbor and HQ USAFE and European Communication in Germany as an Electrical Engineer with the Civil Service. He won a Special Achievement Award from the Air Force for Superior Performance in 1979. He helped design NORAD at Cheyenne Mountain for HQ Space Command/NORAD. In May, 1982, he was appointed Director of Engineering at HQ Space Command/NORAD, where he obtained the highest level of classified clearance.

After he retired from USAF Headquarters in Colorado Springs, he worked with the City and County of Denver in the planning department, approving electrical plans for construction.

He successfully sued the US Air Force for discrimination in 1981, under the Civil Rights Act (Title VII) of 1964. He was a member of Image, a Federal Organization working for the advancement of Hispanic employees at the Federal level. He was also a member of the Latin American Education Foundation, the GI Forum, LULAC, and Toastmasters.

His name has been added to the Wall of Tolerance in Montgomery, Alabama in recognition of his contributions to the ongoing fight against hatred and intolerance in America, by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Phil was funny, played the saxophone and clarinet, and had a deep soothing singing voice. He was a fan of Big Band music, Musicals, and Marching Bands.

He was adventurous and traveled throughout the world. He was an avid WWII historian with an encyclopedic knowledge of the subject. He was reading several books a month until his last illness.

He had a love/hate relationship with the Denver Broncos. He loved his family, candy, and Notre Dame football.

A visitation for Philip will be held Tuesday, August 20, 2024 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM and funeral service on Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 9:30 AM with a reception to follow. A committal service will occur Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 1:00 PM at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO 80236.