Edward Colt Obituary

Edward Woodruff Colt, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, passed away peacefully with family by his side on August 24, 2010. Born in Colorado Springs on March 2, 1927 to Edward Samuel and Hazel Orr Colt, Ed spent his life in Colorado and was an avid outdoorsman who relished the ski slopes, Jeep trails, forests, and hunting grounds of his favorite state. He served in the United States Navy during WWII. Ed then attended Colorado College and became a Sigma Chi. But entrepreneurship's call was too strong, and along with his brothers, Sam and Al, he began building downtown businesses in 1946. The Colt family maintained ownership of various downtown restaurants and other food establishments continuously from 1946 until February of 2010, when Ed sold Giuseppe's Depot. He spent 55 years at the helm of Giuseppe's, first in the old Rex Hotel and ultimately moving to the former D & RG RR Station in 1973. Virtually any day of the week, Ed could be found in the kitchen running the slicer, making pizzas, and working side-by-side with his friends and employees. Ed had a lifelong love of automobiles and belonged to the SCCA for over 30 years, competing on the amateur car racing circuit throughout the Western Hemisphere. In 1959, Ed placed 3rd in the sports car division of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb. He was also a longtime skier who took his first turns on Vail Mountain upon its opening in 1962. He and his wife Joanne maintained a home in Eagle-Vail for over 20 years and he continued skiing on a weekly basis into his 80's. Ed cherished the outdoors and was often found hunting, fishing, riding motorcycles throughout the state and even chopping his own firewood for decades. In 1948, Ed married Patricia King, the mother of his first three children. In 1974, he married Joanne Eastcott, the mother of his last two children. He is survived by his loving wife, Joanne, children Edward S. (Laura Pomerenke) Colt, James C. (Nicole) Colt, Catherine L. (David Mirk) Colt, Douglas W. (Aviva Kazdan) Colt and Camille C. (Troy) Colt, along with his grandchildren, Maxwell, Samuel, Jordan and Ainsley. Ed was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Samuel and Alfred. Ed requested there be no service. A memorial celebration and cocktail reception will be held at Giuseppe's Old Depot Restaurant, 10 S. Sierra Madre St., on Monday, August 30 at 4:00 p.m. The family hopes his old friends will attend to say goodbye and help celebrate a wonderful life. The family gives special thanks to Parkmoor Village and especially SolAmor Hospice, for their loving care in Ed's last days. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to them, the Alzheimer's Association, or Ducks Unlimited.