Paul Burrell Hoskins

Paul Burrell Hoskins 90, of Denver, Colorado passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026.

Born on May 10,1935, in Chicago Illinois to John L. Hoskins a janitor and Mildred Toliver Hoskins a beautician, Paul was the eldest of five children and the eldest son. "Miss Mildred's son" as he was fondly known as. His parents example of perseverance and integrity shaped his lifelong values of service, creativity and family devotion.

A graduate of Tilden Technical High School, Paul studied architectural engineering at the University of Illinois and the Illinois Institute of Technology.

In 1955 he married Elaine Brumfield and together they had three children Lynn, Pamela and Paul.

He began his career with Western Electric Company in Chicago, later transferring to Denver in 1965.
In 1968, he remarried-Joan Hodges and they blended her children David and Hollynd then having their child Noelle. They took great joy in family gatherings, music and time spent outdoors.

He was also grandfather to and cherished time with Samuel Nitz, Lucy Nitz and Angela Herrera-Hoskins.
Over the years, his work evolved from engineering to human resources and community relations, reflecting his deep commitment to equity and opportunity.

In 1973, he directed a campaign with the Denver Chamber of Commerce to increase the hiring of minority candidates. He later served on Colorado governors staff addressing inequities in private sector hiring and earned a MBA from University of Denver in 1979.Paul went on to serve in Mayor Frederico Penas cabinet and later worked for Denver Water.

Beyond his professional pursuits, he played for Denver Barbarian Rugby club (known as "Senior) and later coached Rugby for East High School along with his son, Paul (known as "Chet").

Paul was passionate about music, art and education. He taught Music Theory at DSST charter school until 2019 and sang in the choir at First Universalist Church of Denver where he was a Board member . He was a master drawer in human perspective drawing. Over the years, he volunteered many hours to at-risk youth and adults.
Paul was preceded by death by his wife Joan in 2012. He leaves two sisters, a brother, multiple nephews, nieces and cousins He will be remembered for his kindness, leadership, humor and timeless dedication to his family and community. His legacy of growth strength, integrity and love will live on who knew him.

A Memorial Service will be held on April 25, 2026, from 01:00 PM to 04:00 PM at First Universalist Church of Denver 4101 East Hampden Ave