James ""Jim"" Cozens

Jim Cozens, 88, passed away at home on December 18, 2016. Jim was born in Littleton, CO, on January 24, 1928, grew up on a farm in the Littleton area, and graduated from Littleton High School in 1946. He attended the University of Colorado where he studied History and Education and graduated in 1950. He married Doris Daes in 1949 and they taught for one year in Del Norte Colorado. They moved to South Denver and bought their first home on South Garfield Street. Doris passed away in 1983. He married Arlette Jacquin of Paris and they enjoyed 32 years together exploring the world. Jim taught history at South High School in Denver for 33 years. He was a lifelong champion of public education and the associated democratic values of an educated public and critical thinking. Jim considered himself a humanist and championed human rights and political progress. He had little patience with intentional ignorance and intolerance. Jim was a jack-of-all-trades during the summers, variously building houses, patios, and additions in South Denver, Carbondale and Breckenridge. He filmed races at Centennial Race Track and traveled with the Denver Broncos to film training camps and preseason games for them. He was an excellent gardener, a masterful fisherman, and continuing student of history. The family spent many summer weeks camping and hiking. Jim learned to ski from Doris in 1949 and enjoyed all manner of skiing for many years. He volunteered for the National Ski Patrol at Berthoud and Loveland Ski Areas for 33 years and was an early instructor of wilderness and avalanche safety for both the ski patrol and the Colorado Mountain Club. He was a founding member of the Continental Divide Nordic Patrol. Survived by wife Arlette (Jacquin) Cozens; children Connie (Cozens) Esch and her husband Joe, Wendy (Cozens) Lana and her husband Lance, Harold Taylor and his wife Debbie; grandchildren Erin (Esch) Peone and her husband Dustin, Joanne Esch, Kelsey Esch, Lindsay Lana, Trevor Lana, Mandy Taylor, Travis Taylor; great-grandchild Penelope Peone. Donations may be made in Jim's memory to: Dumb Friends League of Denver 2080 S. Quebec St. Denver, CO 80231 www.ddfl.org OR Littleton Public Schools Foundation 5776 S Crocker St Littleton, CO 80120 www.littletonpublicschools.net/lpsf