Joseph Bellipanni

Joseph Bellipanni died in his home on Tuesday, June 10th in Boulder, Colorado. He was 76.

Born December 31, 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Joe dedicated his life to public service and justice. After graduating from Loyola University in Chicago, Illinois, he joined a volunteer program (VIDA) and taught junior high and high school students in Walesenburg, Colorado. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Colorado School of Law, served as a judicial law clerk for Colorado Supreme Court Chief Justice Edward Pringle and practiced law with Davis, Graham and Stubbs from 1977-1983.

Joe served as District Court judge in Boulder County from 1984-1998, including 12 years as Chief Judge. He was known as a judicial officer who was intelligent, fair, and had a "direct" communication style. After retiring from the bench, Joe pursued travel and service through engaging in international judicial reform work and worked in Egypt, Jordan and Georgia through USAID programs. He joined the Judicial Arbiter Group in 2002, mediating over 2,000 cases during his distinguished second career in alternative dispute resolution. His legacy of excellence and compassion will be deeply missed by the Boulder legal community and all who knew him.

Joe was preceded in death by his beloved wife Janis in 2015. He is survived by his son Jason, daughter Julianna and husband Matthew, grandchildren Lucas, Zoe, Alice, and Will and sister Sylvia.

Donations in memory of Joe can be made to Catholic Relief Services (CRS) www.crs.org/donate, Boulder Bridge House (boulderbridgehouse.org/donate), and Everytown (www.everytown.org).