Edward Lujan, Jr.

Denver Police Captain Edward Lujan, Jr. (ret) died Thursday, March 26, 2020 at Memorial Central Hospital in Colorado Springs surrounded by caring professionals as his beloved family joined by Zoom virtual meeting. Never one to do things the ordinary way, Ed’s final journey took place amid the COVID-19 pandemic which required extreme measures of protection at the hospital and for his family. While Ed’s death was due to a chronic health condition and not COVID, the pandemic’s new-normal had an indelible impact on Ed and all who loved him. An organ donor, Ed was able to donate skin, soft tissue, and bone grafts – it’s a comfort to know he will live on through others.

Ed’s love of debate and dialogue was fostered during his years at the Christian Brother’s all-male Mullen High School where he engaged in academic and athletic pursuits and graduated second in his class. An intellectual with an immense (and sometimes annoying to others) vocabulary Ed is fondly remembered by classmates, one of whom shared, “Enjoyable memories of Ed correcting the beloved Mr. Miles in Latin class. Ed obviously had a better grasp of the subject and had studied further ahead of where the class was than did our teacher.” While the Class of 1966’s reunions grow smaller, their memories are substantial.

Ed met his wife, Linda “Linn” Walsh and charmed her into marrying him when they were both quite young. Despite all the usual ups and downs of any marriage, they persisted and, in the balance, there were many, many more good than bad years as they raised four wonderful kids along with a bonus kid. Together they shared life’s peaks and valleys (and there were plenty of both) and celebrated 51 years of marriage in February. 

Larger than life, Ed crafted four distinct career paths in his adult life. He spent 32 years on the Denver Police Force, seventeen of them at the rank of captain. During those years he was a commander of District Four, the Crime Lab, the SWAT Unit, the Police Academy, the Gang Unit, and ignobly served time in what he not-so-fondly called the “penalty box” at headquarters because he couldn’t restrain his penchant for speaking up and sticking up for the troops. He was a cop’s cop. Thank you to those who stood by him during that phase – he appreciated it more than you will ever know. Ed also served 17 years on the board of the state’s Fire and Police Pension Association representing retirees, especially the “old hires” and was proud of the board’s work to make it one of the healthiest pension plans in the state, if not the nation. It still is. Again, he took care of the troops.

One of his favorite career roles was as a football official. He engaged in this avocation for 23 years starting as youth football official and quickly progressing to high school and college (RMAC) level. He served as Statewide President of Colorado Football Officials Association (CFOA) and in 2007 was named to the Colorado Football Officials Hall of Fame. As his friend and crewmate Dan Weikle observed in a beautiful elegy, “Over the years, we had several members of our crew go on to major college football, and two into the National Football League. Ed should have been one of them but he chose instead to stay with us and we were the better for it.” Football officiating was his love, his stress relief from the intensity of the police department, and the hardest of all to give up when he retired. Those men were his tribe.

But his most favorite career role of all, and one he excelled at, was retirement where he spent time with family and friends, traveled, and engaged in many hobbies and service activities, including President of the Lamar Lions. He also had an opportunity to fulfill his childhood dream of having his own swimming pool when he and Linn relocated to Arizona for her career. They hosted many summertime “Camp Nana & Papa” sessions in Arizona. Yet, Ed willingly gave up his pool to follow Linn, again for her career, to Lamar, Colorado, where he resided at the time of his death. In all his roles, Ed’s specialty was caring for those around him (unless you made him mad and then, well…). And one of his greatest gifts was telling stories. Those stories will live on through all who loved him and get better and better with each telling.

He is survived by his beloved (and often bossy) wife of 51 years, Linda “Linn” Lujan, his son Chris (Michelle) Lujan of Littleton CO; his son Jon, USMC (ret) of Lakewood CO; his daughter Jen Lujan Cheesman of Peyton CO; his daughter Lyss Lujan Schleicher of Denver CO; his oldest granddaughter Emily “Emma Lima” Lujan of Denver CO (whom he and Linn raised from the age of three); his beloved grandsons Michael “Mitey” Cheesman, USN, NAS Whidby Island; Quentin “Q” Cheesman, Peyton CO (and when college is back in session, Lima OH); Eamon “Eamon Man” Lujan, Littleton, CO; and Malcolm “Rocket Man” Schleicher, Denver and Salida CO; his adored granddaughters Shelby “Princess” Cheesman, Peyton CO; and Faith “Sweetest Girl” Lujan, Littleton, CO. Preceding him in death, and waiting for his cuddles, was his sweet little red-headed grandson, Tiberius “Tibby” Schleicher. He is also survived by his dearly loved dogs Shiloh and Meret and his not-so-loved cats, Scamper and Shadow. Ed also appreciated the role his former son-in-laws, Aaron Cheesman and Russ Schleicher,continued to play in the lives of his family, especially his grandchildren’s.

As the eldest of ten children he is also survived by his siblings Chuck (Sheila) Lujan, Joe (Kim) Lujan, Therese (Nathan) Gonzales, Judy (James) Lusk, Louise (Joe, deceased) Gomez, and Bro. Laurence Lujan as well as Aunt Esper Gallardo, numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and a large, loving, boisterous  extended family that could fill Mile High Stadium. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward Lujan, Sr. and Aurelia Angel Lujan, his brothers Richard Lujan, Daniel Lujan, and Michael Lujan, his nephew Gary Lujan, and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He remained fond of his former sister-in-laws, Sandy Jude, Leann Norton, Jean Novak, Vickie Lujan, and Lorraine Jiminez. With his marriage Ed gained another family in the Walshes and is survived by his sister-in-laws, Alice (Jim) Brouhard, Carol Walsh, Kathy (Terry) Briggs, and Angela Kettle and his brother-in-law, Tom (Nancy) Walsh. Ed was also preceded in death by his Walsh family – father and mother-in-law, Edwin and Florence Walsh, brother-in-law, John (Karen) Walsh, and sister-in-law, Judith Walsh.

Services

Ed was cremated and will be interred with his beloved chihuahua, Gracie-Grace, “Prettiest of the Pretty Ones”, at Littleton Cemetery at a future date. Once the pandemic subsides and people can again gather, the family will host “Ed’s Luau” and memorial service at a future date, and suggests you make sure to wear your Hawaiian shirt to the event. He loved a good party and would want everyone to laugh, cry, hug, and tell stories. And won’t it be great to hug again?

Tributes

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donating in Ed’s name to Semper Fi Fund, Colorado Donor Alliance, Colorado Make-a-Wish Foundation, or the Denver Police Orphans’ Fund. These charities held deep personal meaning to Ed and his family. Your gift will help Ed’s generosity live on. And if you do nothing else, please consider becoming a registered organ and tissue donor.  https://www.donatelifecolorado.org/become-a-donor/

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