Jim Judd
WW II veteran and native Denverite Edmund James (Jim) Judd died December 26, 2024 in Denver. He was 98. Rabbi Emily Hyatt officiated the Jan. 2, 2025 funeral service at Temple Emanuel. Interment followed at Emanuel Cemetery at Fairmount.
Mr. Judd was born March 8, 1926 in Denver. His father, Sam Judd, was an architectural engineer, and Jim learned at his knee.
In WW II, Mr. Judd served as a muleskinner with the 10th Mountain Division in northern Italy. Mr. Judd was a lifelong avid skier and was a member of the National Ski Patrol, spending weekends patrolling Loveland Ski Area. He continued skiing until the age of 83.
Mr. Judd graduated early from East High School in order to join the Army. He later earned a degree in engineering and construction management at DU.
In 1949, Mr. Judd and Eleanore Parelman were married. The couple settled in Denver where Mr. Judd eventually founded Judd Construction. They were married for 70 years until her passing in 2020.
Mr. Judd helped found Historic Denver and served on its founding board. In the 1970s, he purchased the Denver City Railway Cable Building at 18th and Lawrence from the Denver Urban Renewal Authority and renovated it for mixed use.
Among the many building projects in the Jewish community that Mr. Judd was involved in was Rodef Shalom; Mr. Judd chaired the building committee of the congregation he and Eleanore helped found.
“Among all his accomplishments, none were more remarkable than the way he compassionately cared for friends and family in their time of need while building a foundation that would generously continue to serve future generations,” said his son, Joel Judd.
Mr. Judd is survived by children Joel Judd, Ken (Wendy) Judd and Nancy Crawford; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to the Center for Judaic Studies at DU or a charity of choice.
Read the IJN eulogy for Jim Judd
Dr. Stephen Winber
Dr. Stephen Winber died December 29, 2024 in Denver. He was 91. A graveside service was held Jan. 3, 2025 at Fairmount Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Emily Hyatt. Fairmount made the arrangements.
Raised in the Bronx, Dr. Winber attended Columbia University. He moved to Denver in 1959, where he practiced dentistry for 54 years.
He often serenaded patients in the dental chair with Gilbert and Sullivan, Tom Lehrer and impromptu operatic selections. An avid traveler, Dr. Winber traveled to 52 countries and was fluent in five languages, “with an ability to toast dinner guests in many more,” his family said.
After retiring, Dr. Winber became an educator at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI), where he taught for 25 years.
Dr. Winber is survived by children Ken Winber and Holly Powers; and six grandchildren.
Rabbi Howard Hoffman
Rabbi Howard Hoffman passed away on December 27, 2024, at the age of 77. A service was held on December 30, at Rose Hill Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Hoffman’s son, Yehoshua Hoffman, and Stephen Kapnik. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Born in Denver on January 30, 1947, Rabbi Hoffman attended Steck Elementary, Hill Junior High School and George Washington High School. He graduated from Dartmouth College and received his master’s in education from Antioch College.
In 1978, Rabbi Hoffman and Sari Horovitz were married. They remained a couple until Rabbi Hoffman’s passing.
“He was masterful at integrating Torah depth with psychology and psychodrama,” Sari Horovitz said.
“He had a few passions: learning and teaching Torah, spending time in the wilderness, with his family and watching basketball and football, preferably with friends.”
He was inspired by Rabbi Samuel Adelman of BMH, and especially by the late Rabbi Shloime Twerski of Denver, who had a transformative impact on Rabbi Hoffman. He became an expert in chasidic teachings. He taught students around the world and traveled to legendary chasidic towns after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Rabbi Hoffman was the spiritual leader of Shalom Al Yisrael in Denver.
Survivors are Rabbi Hoffman’s wife Sari; children Ari (Miriam) Hoffman, Josh (Elisheva) Hoffman and Chanan Hoffman; and eight grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to Yad Sarah, Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel and Beirav Shul in Safed, Israel.
Read the IJN eulogy for Rabbi Howard Hoffman
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