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John Colvin Obituary
After college, Colvin moved to Washington, DC, earning a JD and LLM in taxation at Georgetown University Law Center. Upon completion of law school, he served in the Office of the Chief Counsel of the US Coast Guard. Colvin then worked as Tax Counsel for Senator Bob Packwood, eventually becoming Chief Counsel of the Senate Finance Committee.
In this role, Colvin was a principal contributor to the passage of President Reagan's signature legislation - The Tax Reform Act of 1986 - which lowered income tax rates and closed tax loopholes for the wealthy.
Appointed by President Reagan to the United States Tax Court in 1988, Judge Colvin served with distinction for 36 years. He was elected to three consecutive 2-year terms as Chief Judge, leading numerous initiatives, including efforts to assist low-income and unrepresented tax-payers petitioning the Court. Diagnosed with cancer in 2012, Judge Colvin continued on the Court until his death.
Judge Colvin was also a passionate educator, both as an adjunct law professor at Georgetown University as well as an informal mentor to anyone seeking guidance. In his free time, he enjoyed hiking, canoeing, and rock climbing, as well as playing banjo and sharing his enthusiasm for bluegrass and American folk music. He cared deeply about his Arlington community and stayed active in it throughout his life.
Most importantly, Judge Colvin was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather to a family who miss him terribly. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Ava Colvin; his son, Tim (Dr. Alexis) Colvin; his brother, Dr. Robert (Gay) Colvin; and three grandsons. A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2024 at 2 p.m. at the Church of the Covenant located at 2666 Military Rd, Arlington, VA 22207.
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