John Patrick Byrne

John Patrick “Pat” Byrne, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend passed away on November 19, 2024. He was born on May 25, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan to George A. and Opal V. Byrne. He graduated from St. Francis DeSales High School and attended Wayne State University for two years. He then enlisted in the Army and after basic training attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Riley, Kansas, receiving his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Chemical Corps on April 30, 1950. The Army sponsored his attendance at and graduation from Johns Hopkins University (BS), the University of Michigan (MBA with high honors), as well as the Army War College, the Army’s senior military school. His military assignments took him to various locations in the United States (including the Pentagon for five years), Japan, and England. During a tour in Vietnam, he served as the last Commander of the Cam Ranh Bay logistics base and expedited its return to the South Vietnamese in 1972. Following a three-year tour in Germany, he served as the Commander of the Rocky Mountain Arsenal in Denver from 1975 to 1978, overseeing the demilitarization of the facility as it was shutting down. He then retired to remain in Colorado. His military awards and decorations included the Legion of Merit with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, Vietnam Staff Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

Pat became acquainted with many prominent Coloradans during his assignment at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal. Among them were Denver Mayor Bill McNichols and Governor Dick Lamm. Upon retirement from the Army, McNichols appointed him Denver’s Director of Civil Defense. The following year, Governor Lamm appointed him the Director of Colorado’s Emergency Management Agency. Pat filled that position for 10 years. Highlights of those years included his coordinating rescue and recovery responses for 21 State Declared and two Presidential Declared Disaster Emergencies. In 1983 he was elected President of the National Emergency Management Association.

He married the love of his life, Dolores Ann (Lori) Meyer in 1951 and they were happily married for 62 years. Pat and Lori centered their life on family and friends. He was predeceased by his wife Lori and grandson Andrew Byrne. His four children survive him: John (Lynda) of Saint Simons Island, GA, David (Betsy) of Boulder, CO, Richard (Debbie) of San Jose del Cabo, MX, Kevin (Susan) of Lone Tree, CO, ten grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. He was a parishioner of St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Littleton and remained a devoted Catholic his entire life.

A Funeral Mass will be offered at 2:00 PM on December 5, 2024, at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, 9905 Foothills Canyon Blvd, Littleton, CO. Interment with full military honors will be 10:00 AM on December 6, 2024, at Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or a charity of your choice.