COYTE, RALPH H.

Ralph H. Coyte, a former Colorado Court of Appeals Judge is dead at 84.

Judge Coyte, who died Monday [December 28, 1998], was appointed to the state appeals bench by Gov. John Love and served 25 years. He was one of the first seven judges on the re-established appeals court in 1970.

“He was someone I really respected,” said Alden V. Hill, who practiced law with Judge Coyte in the 1960s and remained a close friend. “He liked to take on these challenges to help people. He had common sense, and he was decisive like an ex-Marine.”

Judge Coyte received his law degree from the University of Colorado.

He served in the Marine Corps during WWII and was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism as a member of Carlson’s Raiders during the raid of Makin Island. He moved to Fort Collins, CO after the war and started a private practice, Hill and Coyte.

Judge Coyte participated in numerous civic activities. “He was like a walking encyclopedia of current events in the community.” Hill said. “He always was involved. He always had his ear to the ground.”

He is survived by his wife, Maria; daughters, Judie Rossell of PA; Margaret Kenny of MN and Rita Hoffman of IL; sons, Joseph Coyte of Fort Collins and Thomas Coyte of Denver; two sisters, Ruth Meyring of Fort Collins, and Hazel Gibba of Denver; 10 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren.