Obituary of James Kennedy Price

James “Jim” Kennedy Price of Arvada, CO, passed away on January 16, 2023 at the age of 91 of natural causes.

Jim was born on October 15, 1931 to Benjamin and Ruth Price in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up in Jackson Heights (Queens) and graduated from Newtown High School in 1949, serving as student body president. It was in high school that Jim discovered his love of running, serving as captain of the track team. He also was a member of the Pioneers Running Club and competed in the Penn Relays, going up against some of the best sprinters of the time.

After high school, Jim went on to earn his bachelors degree in geology from Colgate University where he was a member of ΘΧ fraternity. He followed that with a master’s degree in geology from Cornell University. Upon finishing his studies, he worked for Monsanto and moved to the Rocky Mountain foothills in Lakewood, CO.

Jim was drafted into the US Army in February, 1957 and spent the next two years of active-duty service where he was able to apply his scientific skills at various bases in the US.

Jim married his wife, Ellie, on February 1, 1963. They raised two kids, Leslie and Doug.

Jim’s leisure time was spent running or walking outdoors, bird watching, drawing and painting which also included many hours at the Denver Zoo sketching and later painting various animals and landscapes. In the fall, Jim was all about the NFL and especially loved watching his beloved Denver Broncos.

In the latter part of Jim’s career, he began teaching geography and math classes at Red Rocks Community College. His teaching became a passion of his and he later said that it was one of the most fulfilling things that he had done in his life. Jim taught until he was 80 years old.

Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth, his father, Ben, his wife, Ellie, his sister, Janet
Randall and his grandson, Ryan Chagnon.

He is survived by his children, Leslie Chagnon (Michael) and Doug Price (Kerry Schulze), and his grandchildren, Christopher Chagnon, Kaitlin Memmer (Mike), Mark Chagnon, Anya Price, and Ben Price.

Memorial contributions may be made in his honor to the Denver Zoo.