Longtime Colorado resident Ira Bornstein passed away on July 21, 2023, at the age of 68. A service was held on July 25 at Bonai Shalom and Mountain View Cemetery in Boulder, officiated by Rabbi Sarah Bracha Gershuny. Crist Mortuary in Boulder handled the arrangements.
A native of Chicago, Ill., and born on August 19, 1954, Mr. Bornstein attended CU Boulder and Loyola University School of Law in Chicago, earning his law degree in 1978. He successfully argued before the US Supreme Court in 1988, in a case about an interstate commerce violation of the Commerce Clause.
In 1975, Mr. Bornstein married Sandy Kugler. They met at CU when Ira asked Sandy to type a college paper. They were married for 48 years until his passing.
After living in Illinois for 25 years, Mr. and Mrs. Bornstein moved to Superior in 2000, and relocated to Arvada 10 years ago.
Mr. Bornstein was diagnosed three years ago with glioblastoma.
“A man who believed in having no regrets, Ira lived the right way and inspired all of those around him throughout his life, and that became even more obvious after his diagnosis with his ‘keep moving, no regrets’ mindset,” his family said.
“He had a powerful presence, and he will be remembered for his desire to live on his terms, his selfless dedication to his family, and an unbreakable mindset that helped him overcome hurdles and repeatedly accomplish what so many others thought wasn’t possible.”
Mrs. Bornstein, a travel and lifestyle writer, published stories about “The Traveling Bornsteins Team,” to, as she said, “inspire others to embrace life rather than a terminal illness.”
Survivors are Mr. Bornstein’s wife Sandy; children Joshua (Rachael Israel) Bornstein, Adam (Rachel) Bornstein, Aaron (Candice) Bornstein and Jordan (Kayla Gathwaite) Bornstein; grandchildren Avram, Amari, Bode, Asher, Max, Isabella and Oliver Bornstein; mother Shirley Bornstein; siblings Bruce (Maureen) Bornstein, Ian Bornstein, Scott (Ruth) Bornstein and Mitchell Bornstein; and five nieces and nephews.
Contributions can be made to the National Brain Tumor Society “Keep Moving No Regrets Team” or the Baskin Jewish Community Chaplaincy Program.
Former Intermountain Jewish News and Rocky Mountain News reporter and columnist Janet Brandt passed away on July 10, 2023. A service was held on July 13 at Mt. Nebo Cemetery, officiated by Steve Kapnik. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
A Denver native, Ms. Brandt was an IJN writer in the mid-1970s before working at the Colorado Statesman and the Rocky Mountain News from the late 1970s through the early 2000s. She wrote a shopping column and self-published the book, The Smart Shopper.
“I took her place when she left the IJN,” said associate editor Larry Hankin. “She went on to work for the Rocky Mountain News for many years. She was later a casualty of the shutdown at the Rocky Mountain News.”
In addition to her career in newspaper writing, Ms. Brandt had a show on KOA radio based on her book, called “The Colorado Smart Shopper.”
Born on April 20, 1951, Ms. Brandt attended Colorado Women’s College before spending a year at Kibbutz Menara in Israel. She returned to Denver to finish her undergraduate work at DU with a major in English.
“Mom was committed to building community, which was evident in the frequent Shabbat dinners she hosted, and her service to Kohelet throughout her adult life,” said Ms. Brandt’s daughter Ariel Brandt Lautman.
“She loved good writing, especially in the form of lyrics.”
Survivors are Ms. Brandt’s children Ariel (Dan) Brandt Lautman and Reuben (Megan Kard) Brandt; grandchildren Ezra, Amalia and Maayan; and brother Rick (Nora Roth) Simons.
Contributions may be made to Kohelet or NPR.
Denver native Gerry Kurtz died on June 6, 2023. She was 89. A service was held on June 9 at Emanuel Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Sara Gilbert. Feldman Mortuary handled the arrangements.
Born on May 31, 1934, Mrs. Kurtz grew up on the East Side and attended Gove Junior High School and East High School, later attending the University of Miami.
A part-time model in her twenties and thirties, Mrs. Kurtz spent her career later in life in the jewelry and fashion world.
“There was no one more stylish and put together than Gerry Kurtz,” said daughter Tracy Alvarez.
“She loved the arts. Absolutely everything – ballet, symphony, musicals, plays.”
Mrs. Kurtz was a member of the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, the Denver Art Museum and the Colorado Symphony.
Survivors include children Tracy (Ron) Alvarez, Kurt Gross and Rhonda Good; grandson Alexander Alvarez; and nieces and nephews Mark (Kathy) Hirsh, Joni (Van) Mankwitz, Stephen (Mitzi) Kurtz, Nikki Hirsh and Candy (Rudy) Kiffor.
Contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or Brighton Hospice.
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