Maxim Ellis Ehrlich

Max Ehrlich passed away on Feb. 8, 2018 at age 93, after a brief illness. Born to William and Gladys Ehrlich in Philadelphia, he attended public schools and finished early to enlist in the U.S. Army. He served as an infantryman in Gen. Patton’s Third Army in WWII . Due to injury he suffered in combat, he required a lengthy hospitalization, and was awarded the Purple Heart. He later moved west to attend Denver University, where he earned bachelor’s and juris doctor degrees, and where he met and soon married Carol Hansen, a fellow student.

Max worked two decades at Colorado Milling and Elevator as Manager of Labor Relations, then as corporate Secretary; then joined the newly forming Rio Grande Industries as Secretary-Treasurer and Executive Vice President. In that role, and as a member of the Board of Directors, assisting with expansion of Denver and Rio Grande Railroad into a diversified holding company, and then in the financing and reverse acquisition of the Southern Pacific Railroad, he earned the respect of everyone involved. He semi-retired in 1989 and moved with his wife to Ft Myers, Florida, returning as needed to conduct RGI business, retiring fully in 1990. They returned to Denver in 2011.

Three big loves defined Max’s life: family, books and thought, and music. Every fiber in his body spoke family to him—Carol, his wife, friend and partner for almost 70 years, children Rick (Laura Vysokos), Gloria and son Michael Ehrlich (Dawn) with four children, and Peter (JoAnn) and daughters Jodie Ehrlich Bratten, (Chad) with four children, Nina Ehrlich McCaskill (Jonathan), and Brianne Ehrlich Clanton (James or “J.R.”) with three children. He embraced all with joy and pride.

Max’s next love was thinking. He consumed books, magazines, newspapers, adult classes, and discussion groups as the breath of life. His wit, encyclopedic memory and good sense were the envy of those around him.

And last, music. Classical programs ran nonstop on the radio. He attended concerts and recitals, and for 34 years was a steady at the Aspen Music Festival. He listened critically and with great pleasure, knowing most of the music.

Max is predeceased by his sister, Jane Bredt, and survived by all of the family listed above, and by his brother, Bernard (Norma), their children, and his niece, Joyce Adelman. Good friends, too many to name or even count stand tall with them. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

His Celebration memorial will take place at 2:00 p.m. on March 2nd, at the Olinger Mortuary, 8600 E. Hampden Ave. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Habitat for Humanity in his name.