It is with the heaviest of hearts that we share the passing of JulieFoster, co-founder of NAMI Colorado Springs, at age 89.
As touched upon in her obituary, Julie led a rich life full of connection and service to the community she long called home. It was true to form that while seeking support and better care for a family member living with mental illness, she would want to improve the lives of others as well. That’s what happened in the late 1970s, when she joined forces with a like-minded local woman named Stella Colby to create the first incarnation of the peer group that would become our local NAMI.
Julie shared some of her memories about that time for a video shown at NAMI’s 2023 breakfast. Most of them start around the one-minute mark here.
As mentioned a bit later in the video, Julie taught the area’s first-ever Family-to-Family class in 1999. She was still teaching in 2013, when she also wrote the welcome letter in NAMI Colorado Springs’ 30th anniversary publication.
“From our humble beginnings with REACH [Reassurance for Each] support group in 1979 to formation of Pikes Peak Alliance for the Mentally Ill and affiliation with National & Colorado Alliances in 1983,” she wrote, “our NAMI-CS group has steadily grown in numbers and influence.”
Even after retiring from active volunteering with NAMI, Julie remained steadfast in her support of the organization. She had planned to attend next weekend’s NAMIWalks event, even as her 90th birthday approached in June.
“Julie’s legacy and involvement continued for 43 years, driving NAMI’s ongoing commitment to education, advocacy and support,” says Lori Jarvis, who as NAMI’s executive director from 2012 to 2025 both worked alongside Julie and carried her work into new arenas. “She never retreated, never failed to show up — for every NAMI event, to teach a class, to speak to family members about what it means to have a loved one with serious mental illness.”
A remembrance gathering to honor Julie is scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, May 4, at the Casa Verde Common House, 1355 Lindenwood Grove in the Patty Jewett neighborhood. (Julie and her late husband Phil were among the founders of the Casa Verde co-housing community.) Attendees are encouraged to park on Columbia, Corona and San Miguel streets.
All of us at NAMI Colorado Springs are deeply grateful for Julie’s passion, intellect, dedication, vision and enormous heart. We send our condolences, love and best wishes to her other friends and family.
— Emily Brady, Kirk Woundy and the entire NAMI Colorado Springs team