Patricia McClearn

Patricia "Pat" McClearn - Beloved Wife, Mother, and Visionary Denver Leader

Patricia Ellen Brown McClearn, known to all as Pat, a devoted wife, mother, and tireless community leader, passed away peacefully on January 30th, leaving behind a legacy of passion, service, and visionary leadership.

Pat was born on March 17th, 1931 and grew up on the east coast. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Middlebury College in 1953. After graduation, Pat lived and worked in Boston and Rome before moving to San Francisco where she met her husband, the late Hugh James McClearn, an attorney. They married in 1959 at the Presidio, in San Francisco, where Hugh served as a Judge Advocate General (JAG). They soon followed Hugh's brother Bill to Colorado, arriving in the early 1960s and beginning to raise their family. Pat also completed her Master of Education from Colorado State University.

Pat was a champion of education, environmental stewardship, and civic participation. She was involved with numerous organizations, including the Denver Public Schools, the Denver Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), Colorado State Parks, the Audubon Society, Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, and the League of Women Voters of Denver. Her advocacy extended to improving educational opportunities for children, notably supporting the Denver Public Schools through leadership in the P.T.A. while her children attended K-12, and was a leader in both the Head Start and the Ballarat Outdoor Education Center, both highly successful initiatives aimed at enriching the learning experiences of Denver's youth.

Pat was a trailblazer in community development and conservation across Denver and Colorado, known for her unwavering commitment to making Denver and its surrounding areas better. She was a board member of the Greenway foundation, a member of the Colorado State Parks board, and a founder of the "Park People." Her work as a founding member of the Sand Creek Regional Greenway helped transform urban landscapes into accessible, natural spaces for generations to enjoy. She played a crucial role in establishing the Stapleton (now Central Park) Citizens Advisory Board, ensuring responsible urban development with a focus on sustainability and community engagement, which helped ensure the success of that redevelopment effort.

Her impact reached far beyond Denver city limits - Pat's dedication to public service earned her recognition from institutions like Historic Denver, Colorado State University, University of Colorado at Denver, and the Mile High Youth Corps. Her work in healthcare and hospital environmental improvements through the Colorado Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (CHHE) helped create more environmentally sustainable hospitals, and demonstrated her belief in the power of collective action to create meaningful change. Pat and her husband Hugh were active in Democratic politics and supported numerous Denver, Colorado, and national leaders. Pat was an avid international traveler, visiting over 70 countries, and spending several years in the latter half of her life supporting and working for international organizations such as Global Dental Relief. Her membership in the legendary "Lumpers" hiking group was a source of pride in her later years, where she shared her experiences and friendships with all. An avid reader, she shared her love of books by reading to children in the Denver Public Schools and Denver Public libraries.

Pat McClearn was a woman of action, vision, and deep compassion. She inspired all who knew her with her generosity, leadership, and unwavering belief in building a better future. Her contributions will live on in the communities she helped shape, the natural spaces she preserved, and the many lives she touched.

Pat was the mother of three children, including the late Carolyn, and is survived by her sister, Barbara Olsen, her brother-in-law Ken Olsen, her sons Cameron and Andrew, her daughters-in-law, Robin Cruz McClearn and Victoria McClearn, six grandchildren, Jessica Jimenez, Ivan Patino, Juan Patino, Michael McClearn, Katharine Scott McClearn, and Peter McClearn, and two great grandsons, Travis James and Dominic.

A celebration of Pat's life will be held at her Denver home on March 8, 2025, where family and friends will gather to honor her remarkable journey. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Denver Foundation, or to an organization of your choice that embodies her spirit of service.

Pat will be deeply missed but never forgotten.