John Ewing Archibold

John Ewing Archibold, a retired attorney, public servant, and pro-life advocate, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2024, at the age of 91. He was surrounded by his loving family and friends at his home in Longmont, Colorado. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Ellen Archibold (Molly), his four children, Christopher and wife Koleen, Stephen and wife Shanna, Maryel and husband Derek Adams, and Sarah. He is also survived by grandchildren Rachel, Johnny, David, Rebecca, Mary, Peter, Bitzy, Joe, Naomi, Anna, Jonathan, Luke, Cecilia, John Paul, Noah, Jamie, Matthew, Emmie, Corwin, and Dawn. In addition, he is survived by his 11 great grandchildren Maggie, Harlan, Harper, Molly, Addie, Theo, Tess, Gabe, Juni, Faye, James and one along the way due in December. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Eileen and his brother Robert.

Mr. Archibold was born in Denver, Colorado, on March 15, 1933 and grew up in the family home which continued to be his home until 1997. He was a descendant of prominent Colorado pioneers, lawyers, and politicians, including his great-grandfather, George G. White I, who was one of the authors of the Colorado Constitution and from his grandfather John Alvin Ewing who was one of the founders of the Colorado Bar Association.

John attended East High School, where he excelled in academics, athletics, and music. He graduated from Princeton University in 1955, with a degree in history and political science. He then enrolled in the University of Denver College of Law, where he graduated first in his class in 1959. He later earned a master's degree in law from Georgetown University in 1965.

Mr. Archibold began his career in public service in 1958, when he ran for the Colorado House of Representatives as the youngest candidate and the only one endorsed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, whom he had met as a child. Although he did not win the election, he continued to pursue his passion for politics and law. In 1960, he accepted a position as a Special Liaison Assistant in the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. He then worked as an attorney in the Civil Rights Division and the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, under the administrations of Attorneys General William Rogers, Robert Kennedy, and Nicholas Katszenbach. He resigned from the Department of Justice in 1966 and returned to Denver, where he practiced law for the next 36 years. He served as an associate, partner, and of-counsel in various law firms, as well as the Associate General Counsel and the Chief General Counsel for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. He retired from the practice of law in 2002.

Mr. Archibold was also a devout Christian and a leader in the pro-life movement. In 1967, he founded the Colorado Joint Council on Medical and Social Legislation, the first pro-life organization in the United States, in response to the passage of Colorado's first liberal abortion law. He was also involved in the Anglican Catholic Church, where he served as the first Chancellor of the Diocese of the Holy Trinity and the first Chancellor of its parent body, the Anglican Catholic Church in America. He and his wife converted to Roman Catholicism in 1995 and were active in various lay ministries.

Mr. Archibold was a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, where he served in the Judge Advocate General Corps for 35 years, retiring as a Colonel in 1993. He received numerous awards and honors for his military and civilian service, including the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who's Who in 2020. He was also featured in several editions of Who's Who in America, Who's Who in American Law, Who's Who in the West, Who's Who in the World, and Who's Who in Finance and Industry.

Mr. Archibold was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, who enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He was an avid reader and political junkie. He had a keen interest in history, philosophy, truth, and strategy. He was a generous and compassionate man, who supported many charitable causes and organizations. He was a role model and a mentor to many people, who admired his integrity, wisdom, and courage. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

A rosary will be held at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel (326 Terry St. Longmont, CO) at 6pm on Friday July 26, preceded by viewing beginning at 4pm.

A Funeral Mass will be held for John at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (3791 Pike Road, Longmont, CO) at 10:30am on Saturday July 27th. The mass will be followed by a reception at the church in St. Clare hall.

A prayer service will be held for John at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church (2375 E. Arizona Ave. Denver, CO) at 10:30am on Monday July 29th.

The Rite of Committal will be celebrated at the Fairmount Cemetery (430 S. Quebec St. Denver, CO) at noon at the site of his interment.

in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to: Our Lady of Tenderness in Estes Park, CO, St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, CO, or the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal - earmarked for feeding and clothing the poor and for work with crisis pregnancies.