Stephen Susman
Denver native, Marine Corps veteran and attorney Stephen Susman passed away on March 7, 2026, at the age of 90. A service was held on March 9 at Mt. Nebo Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Born on July 23, 1935, Mr. Susman attended Steck Elementary, Morey Jr. High and East High School, graduating first in his class of 712 students at East.
Mr. Susman attended Harvard College and the Harvard Law School. In lieu of the 1960 draft, he enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve as a private, serving until 1966.
While practicing law for 27 years, Mr. Susman served as president, director or trustee of many civic organizations. After leaving the legal profession, he founded Rent-A-Cheap-Heap, a jalopy car rental business.
After ten years, enduring an armed holdup and retrieving his overdue cars from dark trailer parks in the dead of night, Mr. Susman retired. He and his wife Fran, whom Mr. Susman married in June, 1997, then traveled extensively throughout the world.
“He never forgot a birthday, had a great sense of humor, rated a chocolate chip cookie by the ration of chips to cookie, cherished his memories of Harvard, loved to travel, and was caring, sensitive and intelligent,” Mrs. Susman said.
Survivors are Mr. Susman’s wife Fran; children Gary (Renee) Susman and Julie Lichtman; and brother Dr. Morris (Ellen) Susman.
Contributions may be made to the Harvard College Fund, Class of 1957 or to Clothes to Kids Denver.
Judi Wolf
Judi Wolf, a leader in the arts, passed away on March 25, 2026. She was 85. A service was held on March 31 at Temple Emanuel, with interment at Emanuel Cemetery. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
A native Denverite, born in 1940, Mrs. Wolf graduated from East High School and attended the University of California-Berkley, Boston University and Universidad de las Americas in Mexico City, earning a degree in Spanish. She completed a master’s degree in international relations at DU, while teaching Spanish at Graland Country Day School.
In 1983, Judi married oilman Marvin Wolf. They supported the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Colorado Ballet and Central City Opera.
Mr. and Mrs. Wolf were married for 37 years before Mr. Wolf’s passing in 2020.
“Judi Wolf helped shape Denver into the vibrant cultural city we are so proud of today,” said former Denver mayor Michael Hancock.
“Her passion for the arts wasn’t just visible — it was contagious. She lifted up our cultural institutions, championed artists and understood that a great city must nourish creativity just as much as commerce.
Mrs. Wolf was on the boards of the DCPA, the Colorado Symphony, Central City Opera and the Denver Humanities Institute. She was honored as the Fine Arts Foundation Citizen of the Arts in 2012. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf supported the CU School of Law through scholarships, endowments and the Wolf Law Bldg.
Mrs. Wolf’s was a founding member of the Women’s Voices Fund, the first endowment of its kind in the nation to support female playwrights and directors.
The former Stage Theatre at the Denver Center was renamed the Marvin & Judi Wolf Theatre.
“Judi Wolf was the embodiment of joy, elegance and generosity in our community,” said Janice Sinden, president and CEO of the DCPA.
“She believed in the power of theatre to transform lives.”
Mrs. Wolf’s family said:
“As dramatic and effervescent as Judi was in the community, she was also the engine of her family as a matriarch, mother, grandmother, daughter and loving, devoted wife.”
Survivors are sons Lance and Marco; daughters-in-law Susan and Paige; and grandchildren Grant, Devon, Logan and Caleb.
Contributions may be made to the DCPA Women’s Voices Fund.
Andrew Deitel
Longtime Denver resident Andrew “Andy” Deitel passed away on March 26, 2026. He was 75. A service was held on March 30 in Saddle Brook, NJ. Kleinberg Funeral Services made the arrangements.
A native of New York City, Mr. Deitel was born on April 19, 1950. He attended the University of Oklahoma, earned a bachelor’s degree in business and worked in sports marketing, including at the Brooklyn Sports Foundation.
Mr. Deitel moved to Colorado and worked at Black Hawk Casino.
Following his work at Black Hawk, Mr. Deitel became an entrepreneur, building a business providing items for nonprofit fundraisers, specializing in sports memorabilia and rock & roll.
As a sports fan, Mr. Deitel never left his New York roots; he enthusiastically rooted for the New York Yankees and New York Giants.
Mr. Deitel is survived by his brother Steve (Janet Sherman) Deitel.
Contributions may be made to Rocky Mountain PBS, the University of Oklahoma Hillel or Rotasplast.org, which repairs cleft palates for children.
Ernest Stone
Denver native and US Army veteran Ernest Stone died on February 15, 2026. He was 93. A service was held on February 18 at Temple Emanuel, with interment at Emanuel Cemetery, officiated by Rabbi Elizabeth Sacks. Rabbis Joe Black and Steven Foster also participated. Feldman Mortuary made the arrangements.
Born on April 27, 1932, Mr. Stone grew up on Denver’s East Side and attended Teller Elementary, Gove Jr. High and East High School. During his youth, he worked on weekends by serving lunch at the Denver Press Club, where his grandfather, Joe Diner, was the steward.
Mr. Stone attended the DU business school until his college experience was interrupted by 21 months of service in the US Army. He was stationed in Virginia, Ft. Ord in California and at Ft. Smith, Arkansas, before returning to Denver and graduating from DU.
In July, 1959, Mr. Stone married Rita Lea Olesker in Omaha, Neb. Mrs. Stone died in February, 2016.
After college, Mr. Stone worked at Burrough’s Corp. and Sears, selling furniture. Eventually he started his own business, Monaco Interiors, before landing in commercial real estate.
“Ernie and Rita enjoyed traveling and cruising with many friends over the years,” Mr. Stone’s family said. “His favorite was the Panama Canal.”
Mr. Stone was involved with the Temple Emanuel Brotherhood and ran its blood drive for years. He also volunteered at the Bonfils Blood Bank.
“Ernie was proud of being a Denver native and enjoyed sharing stories about growing up and the changes he witnessed.”
Survivors are children Jamie (Mark) Idelberg and Brad (Catherine) Stone; and grandchildren Lindsey Idelberg, Adam Idelberg, Josh Stone and Samantha Stone.
Contributions may be made to Shwayder Camp c/o Temple Emanuel, JFS or Kavod Senior Life.
© IJN 2026
