Frank Henderson was always determined to help people.

After graduating with a law degree from the University of New Hampshire, the future judge went to work with the Colorado public defender's office, helping people who couldn't afford to help themselves.

Later in his career, Mr. Henderson tutored young lawyers, gave free legal advice and taught criminal justice classes at the University of Northern Colorado.

"He loved knowledge, and he loved the idea of passing it on," said longtime friend and law partner Todd Taylor.

Judge Henderson died after suffering a heart attack and collapsing in court chambers July 23 in Greeley. He was 50.

Taylor said Judge Henderson had a passion for the law and ensuring justice for the people with whom he worked. He took genuine interest in the people in his life - friends, relatives and clients.

He was never loud or boisterous in court. When it came time to argue, he calmly and simply explained his client's side, Taylor said.

And when his client lost, he lost.

Taylor said the strong relationships Judge Henderson built with his clients as a defense attorney made it hard to see them lose in court.

"He was the realest person I've ever known," Taylor said.

Judge Henderson worked for the state public defender's office in Denver, Grand Junction and Greeley from 1986 to 2000.

He served as a magistrate in Weld County from 2000-2002, before he went on to found the law firm of Henderson, Taylor & Rapp in 2002. He was appointed to the county court bench in August.

In his first years on the bench, Judge Henderson worked small claims courts.

"He loved small claims," Taylor said. "There were no lawyers - just people coming in and sometimes telling these wild stories. He thought that was high entertainment."

Among members of the Colorado law community, Judge Henderson was known for his warm sense of humor and his knack for mischief.

"We used to like to play jokes on the D.A.'s office," Taylor said.

Taylor recalled an incident they both saw in court. A young district attorney had gotten into an argument with a defense attorney, "and at some point there was some pushing going on."

Judge Henderson and Taylor later drafted a detailed, instructional "Combat training for defense attorneys" e-mail and sent it to the district attorney's office.

"That was the sort of thing that Frank enjoyed," Taylor said.

Aside from his light-hearted and friendly demeanor, Judge Henderson also had a deeper side, Taylor said.

Born in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and growing up in New Hampshire, Judge Henderson had a deep love for fishing.

"He was a philosophy major in college, and he never stopped learning," Taylor said. "He loved to read books. He had a weekly book club. He loved philosophy, and he loved discussing religion.

"Fly-fishing was mystical and religious to him. He would wax poetic about what it was to him to fly-fish. There was magic involved in getting a fish to take a fly. It really appealed to him on some deep level."

Taylor recalled that Judge Henderson was also an intensely dedicated family man.

"I don't think you could talk to Frank for 15 or 20 minutes without the conversation turning to his wife and his daughters," Taylor said. "He put the most into his relationships."

Henderson is survived by his wife, Wendy Harrison; daughters, Sara Henderson and Julia Sell; mother, Eileen Phinney; and sisters, Martha, Barbara, Amy and Melanie.

Services were July 28 at Union Colony Civic Center in Greeley.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the National Transplant Assistance Fund, at 1-800-642-8399 or transplantfund.org, in honor of Sarah Devasto.

Devasto is a family friend who suffered a spinal cord injury.

coonsj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5617

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