John Marx Miller was born in Hagerstown, Maryland on April 6, 1937.  He attended Wayside Elementary where he met the first of countless lifelong friends.  John exhibited a dedication to community service early in his life as a Boy Scout ultimately becoming an Eagle Scout.  This dedication to service continued until the end of his life when he completed 300 hours of service as a hospital volunteer at UCH Anschutz Medical Campus in the spring of 2021.

John attended West Virginia University for both college and law school and remained an avid WV fan all of his life regardless of the how the football program fared each season.  While attending law school, John served in the U. S. Army attaining the rank of Captain.  He was a tank commander during the Cold War spending time in Germany and Austria.

It was during this time, in Austria, where John learned to ski.  John’s unique Austrian style of skiing made it easy to pick him out of the crowds coming down the mountain.  It was a sight to behold that can only be described as a Symphony on Skis.  Later in life, John obtained a graduate degree from George Washington University.

John had a long career as an attorney working for Marathon Oil Company for over 27 years.  His assignments took him to Findlay, Ohio, Houston, Texas and he spent many days at the Research Center located in Littleton, Colorado.  John was the lead attorney for all labor, personnel and environmental issues and negotiated all of the labor agreements for Marathon’s refineries. John remained an active member and promoter of the Marathon Alumni group, arranging events and guest speakers for the group.

John met Linda in Houston in 1996 and they were married at the Ski Tip Lodge on June 10, 2006.  The event was so much fun that a mama bear brought her two cubs to enjoy the steak and trout as well.

When his time became his own after retirement, John headed straight to Frisco, Colorado.  He spent as much time as possible on the slopes, hiking trails and bar stools of Summit County.  He found his true calling as a children’s ski instructor at Copper Mountain sharing his love of the sport with numerous children including his two grandsons, Bryant and Luke.  John then worked as a Mountain Host and Ski Instructor at Arapahoe Basin where he got the nickname “Mister John” from his three and four-year-old students.

John by the numbers:

7,020 Workdays clocked at Marathon Oil Company possibly ending every meeting with “Proceed as if something happened.”

300 hours as a hospital volunteer at the Anschutz Medical Campus, University of Colorado Hospital

78 years of friendship with Fred Kail

46 years of friendship with Jack Walker

40 years of friendship with Moe Modecki

32 years of friendship with Walter Paul Miller

27 annual trips (from 1993 to 2019) with the four Jakes

26 straight Michigan vs. Ohio State football games at Ohio Stadium aka The Horseshoe (Thanks, Moe!)

24 Marathons (not the oil company but the other kind, running Boston, Chicago, Houston)

20 Triathlons (when they said it was the Mrs. T’s Triathlon, he likely thought this involved a cocktail and when he finished, it certainly did)

15 years of marriage to his one true love, Linda

11 years of proudly pretending to be a Texan after moving to Houston

10 years of Washington Redskins/Football Team (whatever they are calling themselves these days) season tickets

9 times per ski class he said “pole point”

8 times in the ER for “kissing rocks” or similar mishaps that earned him the nickname “CRASH”

7 – the number engraved on his John Miller Dillon Dam Brewery permanent glass mug

6 years of Broncos season tickets

5 favorite pairs of Oakley sunglasses

4 Original Jakes (‘OJs’)

3 Ride the Rockies (including in 2005 for 405 miles from Grand Junction to Breckenridge, Colorado)

2 grandsons (best ski students ever)

One full and well-lived life!

Countless friends and loved ones…There should be no sadness because for those of us that remain, John will always be “Forever Young.”  Cheers!

John’s family wishes to extend their unending appreciation for all of the calls, texts, cards, flowers, support, good wishes and the outpouring of love!

In lieu of the flowers, John’s family has established a memorial fund in his honor for the Anschutz Volunteer Services at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Gifts in memory of John Miller can be sent to: University of Colorado Foundation, PO Box 17126, Denver CO 80217 noting John’s name, payable to the CU Foundation.  Gifts may also be made online at https://giving.cu.edu/JohnMiller

A celebration of John’s life will be held on Saturday, July 31st at 11am at Olinger Chapel Hill, 6601 S. Colorado Blvd., Centennial, Colorado 80121.  https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/centennial-co/john-miller-10261942