James Philip Allen

James (Jim) Philip Allen was born on April 28, 1937, the oldest of four children born to Kathleen and Dr. Philip Cloye Allen in Denver Colorado. Jim graduated from Regis High School and received a degree in Sociology from the University of Colorado. He married Virginia Ruth Gillingham on October 22, 1965. Together they had 3 children, Gregory, Christine and Kevin. Sadly, a fourth child died in utero.

Jim traveled around Europe after graduation and came back to Colorado to work in Information technology in the days when computers filled a room and before they were in every home and hand. He began his career in IT Management at University Hospital, moved on to University of Denver and retired from Colorado School of Mines.

Jim’s interest in computer technology was one of many interests he pursued throughout his life. It is safe to say his hunger for knowledge was insatiable. He was a tireless life long learner, taking classes in languages, studying world history, current events, music, art, politics, philosophy and science. He was a voracious reader of both fiction and non-fiction and a passionate supporter of independent journalism. He quietly and consistently supported, both financially and with his attention, causes he believed in. He shared these interests with his family, his wife, children and grandchildren.

Jim was a lover of nature, taking his family camping, hiking, fishing and skiing in the Rocky Mountains. Some of our family’s fondest memories are summers staying in a cabin on a working cattle ranch west of Glenwood Springs.

He was a long time member of a bookclub made up of his close friends, that is still going over 50 years since it begun. He was a volunteer with the City Park Rock Star Crew caring for gardens within City Park. He was a docent at the Denver Public Library. He supported many art and cultural institutions such as, Denver Center for Performing Arts, the Colorado History Museum, The Museum of Nature and Science, The Denver Art Museum, the Denver Botanic Gardens, Friends of Chamber Music and the Santa Fe Opera.

He was many things, a walker, a coffee and chocolate lover, a scholar, a nature enthusiast, and an art lover. Most of all though, he was a man who loved his family. He found joy in and cared for his family through both good and challenging times. For Jim, family was everything. We celebrate Jim, a quiet, kind, devoted, curious, grateful and thoughtful man who, no doubt, had little understanding of his impact on the people in his life.

He is survived by his wife, Virginia Allen, his children, Gregory, his wife Cynthia and their children Coulter, Mia and Seth; Christine and her children, Amelia Foster and May; Kevin, his wife Lauren and their children Molly (2001-2021), Sophie and Rory; his sisters Mary Sue Hackett and Kathleen O’Malley. He is preceded in death by his brother William Allen. He will be sorely missed.

A celebration of Jim’s life will occur on Friday, November 17th, 2pm at Montview Presbyterian Church,1980 Dahlia Street, Denver, CO 80220. Interment will be in the Montview church Columbarium.

All are invited to a reception at the church following the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rett Syndrome Foundation (rettsyndrome.org) or to the Independent journalism at Propublica

(donate.probublica.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.AdvantageAurora.com for the Allen family.