JOHN PAUL STANFORD Aug. 15, 1939 – Sept. 3, 2024

John was born in Palestine, Texas, to Paul Stanford and Mary Helen (McLeod) Stanford on August 15, 1939. After attending Lamar High School in Houston, Texas, he received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from the University of  Houston and his Masters of City Planning from Georgia Tech in 1971.

He worked in Savannah, Georgia, where he created a historic presentation guide for development proposals for the downtown historic district. He was a Senior Planner in Denver, Colorado, from 1971-73 and moved from there to Aspen, Colorado, where he directed Aspen’s historic preservation program. While there he headed the preservation, restoration and reuse efforts of the Wheeler Opera House as a performing arts facility. While living in Aspen, he married Karen Smith of Boston, Massachusetts, who later lost her life in a tragic car accident.

In June of 1986 John joined the Peace Corps in Belize, Central America. Here he researched and authored the first comprehensive village profile and drafted a detailed village map. From 1989-1991, John was the project manager of the Downtown Herndon, Inc. in Virginia. There he organized events to promote businesses and to develop the downtown’s image. He ended his career in Los Alamos National Laboratory as a staff and land use planner. John was always fascinated with well-designed furniture, intriguing light fixtures, art, architecture, and historic preservation.

John is survived by a sister, Linda F. Stanford, sister-in-law, Janet Smith Woodburn (Bob), and many cousins and friends. He loved his life, family, and friends.