John A. Valerio

John A. Valerio, of Denver, Colorado, born April 9, 1965 at Turner Air Force Base, Albany, Georgia to Arnold and Ruth Valerio, died peacefully in the presence of loved ones at the Denver Hospice Center, on June 28, 2015, following a lengthy illness. He leaves behind many who loved and admired him for his creativity, energy and commitment to improving the environment and his passion for making the world a better place for generations to come. An accomplished and gifted student, John graduated Cum Laude from St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in Government and Economics. In 1994 he completed a Juris Doctor degree from the College of Law at the University of Denver. He then successfully completed a Master's Program in 1996 at the University of Denver Graduate School of International Studies. John's balanced education included the realms of political, cultural and moral thought, as well as the intricacies and doctrines that make up the legal system.

His passions included Environmentally Sensitive Mass Transit, riding Amtrak and other trains, visiting historic train stations, promoting environmental issues, climate change causes, and world political, economic and cultural inequalities. John enjoyed hiking, biking, backpacking, home remodeling and hanging out with his fabulous group of friends.

As a member of a military family, duty assignments required the family to establish residences in Albany, GA, Evans Mills, NY, Oakhurst, NJ, Fairbanks, AK, Biloxi, MS, Woodland Park, CO, Colorado Springs, CO, and Manitou Springs, CO. Educational choices found John living in Ft. Collins, CO, Canton, NY and Denver, CO. His International travels and studies included trips to Europe and England 1981 and 1983, Peru 1989 and a 1992 environmental studies program in Kenya. In total, he visited 15 foreign countries and several dozen major US cities.

John was a transit and rail planner at the Colorado Department of Transportation, known for his tireless dedication to promoting (and personally using) alternatives to the single occupant vehicle, which he saw as the best way for CDOT to fulfill its mission of providing "the best multi modal transportation system for Colorado." To that end, John was the driving force in promoting and creating regional and intercity bus routes in Colorado that have given travelers meaningful passenger connections between communities.

Chief among those who will miss him are his parents Ruth and Arnold Valerio of Santa Fe, NM, brother Paul and family of Cedar Park, TX, extended families in Corning, NY, the greater Boston area, Chinnor, Oxfordshire, England, countless close Colorado friends and associates, high school and college alumni throughout the US and his many friends at the Colorado Department of Transportation.

Following cremation, a Celebration of Life will held at the Boettcher Mansion, 900 Colorow Road, Golden, CO 720-497-7630 from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Tuesday, July 21st. In accordance with John's wishes, in lieu of flowers, please contribute your time, talents and treasure to an environmental or climate change advocacy group of your choice. To send condolences or leave a special message for the family, please visit "Care Pages" and log in at http://www.carepages.com/carepages/JohnValerio/messages