Bryan D. Shaha

Bryan D. Shaha, Centennial, formerly of Greeley, died on October 24, 2007. Bryan was born October 27, 1941 in Oklahoma City. Bryan served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1964 to 1969. Bryan graduated in 1972 from the University of Colorado School of Law. While in law school, he represented indigent persons for the Legal Aid Clinic. This early experience formed a lasting impression on Bryan, who spent his legal career making sacrifices without regard for personal gain in the defense of the accused and indigent persons. Bryan worked for Colorado Rural Legal Services from 1973 to 1974, then worked for 16 years in the Colorado State Public Defender System. Bryan tried six death penalty cases. None of his clients were ever executed. Bryan left the Colorado State Public Defender system in 1996 to become the Alternate Defense Counsel for the State of Colorado. His work training attorneys in Colorado and nationally allowed him to share his passion and expertise with numerous attorneys and investigators. He retired in March, 2006. Bryan married Claudia ""Corky"" Wells in 1966. They have one son, Colin. Bryan was married to Carol Haller in 1991. They have one daughter, Meaghan. Bryan was an avid reader and volunteered as a coach for soccer teams for both of his children, taught Great Books, was a Sunday school teacher, and coach for Destination Imagination. He was athletic his entire life, riding bikes on trips with favorite people, hiking and climbing, running races including marathons, playing handball, racquetball and squash. He was a baseball player and fan and he believed Pete Rose should be in the hall of fame. Bryan is survived by his wife and both children; daughter-in-law Cindy and grandson Beck Shaha, of Greeley; mother Margaret Shaha, Oklahoma City; sister Terry Silvey of Edmond, Oklahoma; brother Ken Shaha of Fort Worth. Bryan was preceded in death by his father, Lewis Shaha. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Bryan's name may be made to the University of Colorado School of Law to provide financial help to law students who follow in his footsteps toward a career in public service or to Escuela de Guadalupe school in Denver, to continue their mission to provide quality Catholic, dual-language education to children of all incomes. A funeral to celebrate Bryan's life will be Monday, October 29, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, 4500 E. Hampden Ave., Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. A memorial service celebrating Bryan's life will be held in Greeley in early January, 2008.