Jack Peter Wolfe, 79, of Longmont, passed away peacefully on April 2nd, 2024, following a two-year battle with cancer. He was born on August 8th, 1944, in Schenectady, NY to the late Harry C and Mary (Kalin) Wolfe.
After spending most of his childhood in Syracuse, NY, he followed in the footsteps of his beloved older brother, Dick and attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He then went on to become a graduate of an advanced electric utility engineering program in Schenectady, which led to a position for General Electric in Denver, CO, where he worked for five years. While a piece of his heart would always live in the cherished Adirondack Mountains and more specifically at his family’s camp in Wilmington, NY, he fell in love with Colorado and never left. Feeling that he could better serve others, he decided on a career change and became an attorney by attending law school, nights, at Denver University.
While working on staff as an attorney for Tri-State G&T, he attended a dinner party at a dear friend’s home and that is where he first laid eyes on Ruth Marie Homan. While it took him some time to get up the nerve to ask her on a date, with a near miss when he was late to that first date, ever on “Wolfe time”, they finally did connect, and it didn’t take long for them to realize that this was it. They married on New Years Eve of 1977 and were devoted partners and best friends, holding hands and expressing love for one another to the very end.
Jack had a private practice in Longmont for over 40 years, where he helped countless clients and rural electric co-ops around the state, specifically, Mountain View and Sangre De Cristo Electric Associations. Jack’s real passion, however, was to pass on his love, generosity, and kindness to loved ones and strangers alike. His enthusiasm for food and the preparation of, led to many a meal, both in his home with the ones he loved and in donation to many of those in need in and around the Longmont area. A close second to food was his love for music, often being brought to tears by a particularly meaningful or compelling piece of music. The Notre Dame marching band (in which he played the saxophone for all four years he was in school there), the Longmont Chorale (in which he sang for years) and the Kaua’i Community Radio Station are a few of his favorite ways to experience music. As a devout Catholic, he spent his life serving God and his faith was unwavering. As a member of Light of Christ ECC for the last 12 years, he was given the space and freedom to evolve and develop his faith in a way that was truly meaningful to him. This was a gift that allowed him to, in the end, achieve and exceed his lifelong goal of being a loving man to all.
Along with his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his brother Richard Wolfe and his brother-in-law, James Flanagan.
Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 46 years, Ruth; daughter Beth (Seth) Haley; son Gabriel Wolfe; 8 grandchildren: Mariah Felan Wolfe, Gabriel D. Wolfe, Malachi Warrilow; Charlotte and Bennett Gagne and John, Colin and Emerson Haley; sister-in-law Ella Mae Flanagan and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Mass will take place on Wednesday, April 17th at 10:00 AM at Light of Christ ECC Church, 1000 W 15th Avenue, Longmont, CO followed by a luncheon. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Light of Christ ECC or to H.O.P.E. of Longmont.
Jack was my uncle. I am forever grateful for all he did to support me and my siblings throughout our childhood and adult life. Whether it was flying back to New York for confirmations, weddings, or other events, and allowing us to use the camp in Wilmington, NY, it made a significant impact on our lives. Jack spent countless hours researching our family history and made a point to share that information with us, so we would know where we came from. One of my most memorable trips, was when my wife Stacey and I traveled to Colorado to visit Jack and Ruth. It was something Jack had suggested many times and we finally made it happen. He laid out an eight-page itinerary of potential sites to see and things to do based on our interests and the time we had available. What an incredible trip, we will always cherish those memories.
Jack, until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand.
Slainte, Prost, Proscht, Hipa Hipa!
Jack was the kind of big hearted man that when I met him I was welcomed into his family. In fact my whole family was welcomed into his arms and into his heart. Always a smile on his face, he showed how happy life can be. He was the kind of man who made his mark on this world and will be missed.
God speed Jack.