John Peter Koclanes was born to Peter G. and Helen Koclanes in 1929, in Denver, Colorado. He was the second of their four children; George P. Koclanes (Carol), Joan (Bill Vasil†), and Francis (Don Diones). He was a proud Denver native who loved traveling - especially to the city of Paris which he visited many times - but he always told people that Denver was the best place in the world to live!
John married Helen Demopulos in September, 1955 and they recently celebrated 62 years of marriage, together with their 3 children; Angela (James Hernquist†), Peter (Teri) and Ted (Dee); 10 grandchildren, and 5 great grandchildren. He loved being with family, especially if it included all of the Koclanes family nieces and nephews; Peter G. Koclanes, George Koclanes Jr., Ann Koclanes, Merrie Vasil (Jim Longfield), George Vasil, Peter Vasil, Elaine Diones (Jim LaCerte), Bill Diones, and Peter Diones.
John graduated from the University of Colorado in Boulder, School of Pharmacy in 1955, served in the United States Army, and was stationed in Langstuhl, Germany as a laboratory specialist. He started as an entrepreneur and owned and operated the Dallas Pharmacy in Aurora for 7 years. He was subsequently hired as the Administrator for the Rio Grande Hospital Association employee medical program for 8 years, before accepting an appointment by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, U.S. Public Health Service as the Regional Pharmacy Consultant; responsible for the inspection and certification of hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers in a six state area.
John was a Member of AHEPA for 50 years (served 5 terms as President), member of G.A.P.A. (Greek American Progressive Association) for over 25 years (served 2 terms as President), and served on the Parish Council of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral for 28 years (1 term as President, 3 terms as Vice President, 3 terms as Treasurer). He was awarded the prestigious Order of Saint Andrew, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in New York in 2007.
John was a founding donor of the Peter G. and Helen Koclanes Scholarship Fund at the University of Colorado; an endowment that has provided tuition to deserving students for over 20 years.
John’s passion for life, family, education, his church, and his Greek heritage will be missed, but his gentle loving spirit and wonderful sense of humor will be carried forever in the hearts of his family and those who loved him.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the church he loved; Assumption Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
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