April 22, 1949 – February 4, 2024

TABERNASH – John Lewis Hughes, 74, a college administrator turned international cycling coach, passed away Feb. 4, 2024, following emergency surgery. He was a caring spouse and friend, a passionate cyclist and cross-country skier.

A Celebration of Life will be held 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 23, at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 390 E. Garnet Ave., Granby, CO 80446. For those unable to attend in person, a Zoom will begin at 5:30 p.m. (MST). A celebration will be held in Boulder in mid-March.

Son of the Rev. James B. and Ruth L. Hughes, John was born in Seattle on April 22, 1949. His love for hiking, backpacking and mountaineering began in his youth. Graduating in 1967 from Stadium High School in Tacoma, Wash., he headed south to Stanford University, where he remained for nearly a quarter-century.

He earned a degree in history and a master’s in German studies at Stanford, ran the main auditorium and eventually held top roles in planning and budgeting as associate vice president and then senior associate dean. While at Stanford, he earned an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.

John relished ultramarathon cycling throughout North America, setting several course records, and in France, riding Paris-Brest-Paris five times. He competed in the Race Across AMerica multiple times as a rider or crew chief.

In 1994, John and his wife, Barbara Harvie, moved from California to Boulder, Colo., where he began a new career as endurance cycling coach and author. (The couple later divorced.)

Certified as both a personal trainer and sport coach, John had clients in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. He spoke at the 2011 International Conference on Cycling and Health in Shanghai, China. For 12 years, he led the UltraMarathon Cycling Association. He wrote two books on endurance cycling and numerous articles for UltraCycling and later RoadBikeRider.com.

Years after his marriage ended, John met Carol Garnand. Starting with a few hikes, they began dating in 2004. They formalized their relationship with a commitment ceremony in 2011 and married in Boulder on Dec. 14, 2019, with John’s brother officiating. That same year, they bought a house at Tabernash, where John continued road and mountain biking. Together they enjoyed skiing, camping and kayaking, as well as concerts, opera, travel and John’s cats.

John was proud of Carol’s skills as a silk artist and became her devoted set-up helper at art shows. Their travels took them to Norway for skiing and to India for daughter Erika’s wedding. He embraced Carol’s adult daughters as his own and was excited to be a grandfather.

Survivors include John’s wife, Carol; her daughters, Kirstin (Bryan), Lisa (Adam) and Erika (Kedar); granddaughter, Zelda; brother, Dick (Rachelle); nephew, Matt (Michelle); and niece, Alison.

Contributions may be made to Grand County Wilderness Group, for whom John was board secretary; Colorado public radio/TV or UC Boulder Artist Series Fund.