Dan Alden Giullian

Dan Alden Giullian was born on June 26, 1934, in Denver, Colorado to John Giullian, and Marie Shuey. He is survived by his wife Sally Eileen Giullian and their five children, Stephen Giullian (Karen Putnam), Marc Giullian (Marianne Harb), Jill Giullian, Paula Vernon (John Vernon), Jon Giullian, 14 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Dan graduated from Wheat Ridge High School and earned Bachelors and Masters of Arts degrees in Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado, in Greeley, Colorado.

Dan and Sally married on March 22, 1958, in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Soon after, Dan was drafted and was sent to Ft. Benning, Georgia for basic training in the Army, and then assigned to Germany and played bassoon in the Army Band. Sally joined him that summer and at the end of his Army service in 1959, they returned to Colorado.

Dan began his career teaching instrumental music (band and orchestra) in Jefferson County Public Schools in August 1959. Early in his career, he built and strengthened the instrumental string program at several elementary schools in Golden, Colorado. By the time he retired 31 years later, Dan had taught instrumental music at 29 different schools in Jefferson County.

Even after retiring from full-time teaching in June of 1990, Dan continued teaching strings part-time for several more years at Moore Middle School, Evergreen High School, and several elementary schools in Adams County.

Dan loved teaching instrumental music to young school children and was passionate about introducing strings to many children in the community. He frequently went out of his way to provide instruments for students who wanted to learn violin and cello.

Dan received a Lifetime Service Award from the Colorado Chapter of the American String Teachers Association for outstanding service to string music education and performance, and he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Music Teachers Association of Jefferson County for his dedication to music education in the county.

Beyond his public-school service, Dan contributed to music education in the local communities of Golden and Arvada. He founded the Golden Youth Symphony (1964) and served as a director of the Arvada Center Youth Symphony orchestra for many years. Dan gave hundreds of youth the opportunity to perform the works of major composers and to grow in their musical development. Dan was also active in the Suzuki violin program in Colorado, helping many students to begin learning to play violin using the Suzuki Method.

Dan instilled a love and passion for music in his children and provided many opportunities for them. They will be forever grateful, and love him for all he sacrificed and gave them.

Dan was a professional big band musician and a long-time member of the Dean Bushnell Orchestra. His expertise was woodwind instruments especially the baritone, alto and tenor saxophone. Dan also played in many community orchestras, pit orchestras for traveling musicals, and ensembles in the Denver Metro area: Jefferson Symphony Orchestra, Denver City Municipal Band, Denver Stock Show Band, Denver Woodwind Chamber Ensemble, Broomfield Community Chorus and Orchestra, and the Arvada Center Chamber orchestra. One of Dan’s favorite jobs was playing in the Denver Broncos Band.

Dan will be remembered for his dedication to his family, his deep love of music and sharing it, his willingness to help others, and his famous joke telling. We miss him and know we will see him again.

Visitation will begin at 10:30am, Funeral service at 11:30am on Friday, March 6, 2026 at Horan and McConaty Mortuary, 7577 W. 80th Ave, Arvada, Colorado. The burial will take place at Fort Logan Cemetery at 2:00pm.