In Memoriam: Richard Irvin '73
Richard Drury Irvin ‘73 passed away on December 9, 2024. An active member of the Boulder legal community for many years, Irvin will be remembered for his integrity and sense of humor. He was a past president of the Boulder County Bar Association (2010-2011) and remained active in BCBA and the wider legal community until multiple sclerosis forced him to retire in 2016. Even in retirement, Irvin was always ready to get together with the many colleagues who became friends over the years.
“I came to know Rich well during my three terms as Boulder District Attorney,” said Stan Garnett ’82, Partner at Garnett Powell Maximon Barlow & Farbes. “Rich was a thoughtful, vigorous and effective advocate for justice in any setting…The community is filled with people who benefitted from his lawyering and above all, I counted him an important friend in the legal community who would always tell the truth.”
Irvin was born September 19, 1946. After graduating with honors from Ohio University, Irvin worked inthe Lake County Department of Social Services by day while attending Cleveland State University College of Law at night until 1971, when he transferred to the University of Colorado School of Law, where he received his JD in 1973.
During his time at CU, Rich was involved with its clinical program and credited his law school experiences with leading him into a career that he dearly loved. Upon his admittance to the Bar in 1974, Rich joined the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, serving in Denver and Boulder. He loved to tell the story of having a jury trial on his second day on the job. And as those who knew him could attest, he had many other stories he would often recount as a public defender and later in private practice (1980-2016). In 2019,Irvin received the Boulder County Bar Association’shighest honor, the Ron Porter Award of Merit.
Irvin’s involvement in the Colorado Law alumni community was vast – and ranged from attending Homecoming events, CLE presentations, annual lectures, and some class reunions. Additionally, Irvin was involved with the CU Alumni Association and the Directors’ Club (now Forever Gold), where he served on the Board and was its President.
Those who worked alongside Irvin will recall his colorful and passionate style in the courtroom and his dedication to providing a zealous defense to clients from all walks of life. As his daughter Margo commented at an early age to a friend, Irvin went to court “to make things fair.”
“Rich had a distinguished career as an attorney and wasacknowledged as one of the County’s legal leaders,” said Hon. David. A. Archuleta ’89. “Rich and I had many cases together and, while he always tried to optimize the outcomes for his clients, he was always also completely professional and thoughtful. Notwithstanding his legal accomplishments, his best attribute is probably his lifelong quest for justice and a mature appreciation for people and their circumstances.”
Rich was a true extrovert who lived life to the fullest and thrived on good conversation, novel experiences, and an appreciative audience for his stories and (bad) jokes. He was passionate about history, movies, music, travel, and the CU Buffs.
Irvin married Ruth Kromminga (now Irvin) in 1987 after meeting at a Colorado Trial Lawyers Association conference, and for many years they practiced law together as Irvin & Irvin. Their daughter, Margo, is married to Scott Baez (also a lawyer), and they live in California.
Gifts in Irvin’s name may be made to the at the University of Colorado Law School (you may donate online or make your check out to CU Foundation, write fund #D-0024359 on the check, and mail it to University of Colorado Foundation, P.O. Box 17126 Denver, CO 80217-9155) or the Boulder Philharmonic (1600 Range St., #200, Boulder, CO 80301).
A celebration of life will be held on May 4 at the Byron White Club lounge at CU’s Folsom Field..