Irving Ettenberg

Retired Judge Irving ""Irv"" Ettenberg, 87, passed away peacefully December 15, 2015 at home in the presence of his beloved wife of 44 years, Merry. Irv was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Rose and Leo Ettenberg and moved to Denver, Colorado at the age of one. He graduated from North High School, Denver University and Westminster Law School. Irv was appointed to the Denver County Court in 1970 where he spent a long and distinguished 25-year career. Upon his retirement from the County Court bench in 1995, he spent the next 12 years serving as a Senior Judge traveling the state where he was needed to cover for other judges. Prior to being appointed to the bench, Irv worked both in the Denver City Attorney's office and the Denver District Attorney's office. He developed many procedures in alcohol-related driving offenses which would be enacted into law. One of his proudest accomplishments was the development of the program to certify court interpreters in Spanish to English and English to Spanish. Irv was an excellent athlete and excelled in golf and tennis as well as skiing. He was also a tournament bridge player and loved teaching other judges how to play the game. But one of his best known qualities was his consummate story and joke telling. Given the opportunity, he could keep a crowd in stitches for hours on end. Gourmet cooking was his passion as attested by his extensive library of cookbooks. Besides his wife, Irv is survived by his Aunt Sally Cohn aged 104; cousin, Sheldon (Sophie) Berk; nephews, Richard Friedman, David (Lisa) Friedman, and Michael Friedman; niece Jennifer (Chris) Jones; nephew Scott (Becky) Monaghan; his sister Isabelle; and his cousin Howard Berk. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Denver Dumb Friends League, The American Lung Association or the Wounded Warrior Project. Thanks to the Centura Home Hospice Team for their kind and compassionate care. A celebration of Irv's life will be held at Heritage Eagle Bend Clubhouse, 23155 East Heritage Parkway, Aurora, Colorado, on January 30, 2016 at one o'clock in the afternoon. Please share memories of Irv and condolences with the family below.