It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Howard Gelt, a partner in Akerman’s Denver office and an esteemed member of the firm's Real Estate Practice Group. A talented transactional lawyer and prominent figure in Colorado politics, Howard was admired for his business acumen, his involvement in a number of notable development projects, and for his warmth, compassion, and commitment to the community.
 
Howard devoted more than 40 years to his legal practice and to public service. He began his career as an educator, teaching civil and criminal trial practice at the University of Denver College of Law, and later at the Duke University College of Law, where he began the first clinical program in the country on the subject of law and aging. From 1975–1978, Howard was a senior staff member for former Colorado Governor Richard D. Lamm. Following his service, Howard entered private practice and contributed to numerous state campaigns as the chairman of the finance committee for Governor Roy Romer, as the Democratic State Party Chairman, and as a member of the Finance Committee for U.S. Senator Michael Bennet. Howard was also a past chairman of the Metro North Chamber of Commerce and on the board of governors of the Metropolitan Denver Economic Development Corporation, among others.
 
Later in his career, Howard's tremendous talents and experiences allowed him to grow an impressive multi-million-dollar retail company as the president and CEO, as well as an extensive real estate practice. He was a trusted advisor to many businesses and assisted clients across a spectrum of large-scale real estate and economic development projects in Denver and throughout the country.
 
Howard earned a B.S.B.A. from the University of Arizona in 1966 and received his J.D. from the University of Denver College of Law in 1969.