Wendy Lynn McCallum

Wendy Lynn McCallum, 55, of Denver, Colorado, passed away unexpectedly on October 21, 2025, and is now undoubtedly barefoot, talking to and petting all the dogs in the great beyond while laughing with her dad, John McCallum.

Born and raised in Upland, California, where she attended Upland High School, Wendy was an incredible soul—selfless, beautiful, incredibly intelligent, and wonderfully unpredictable. She carried a light that drew people to her, with a presence and energy that made every person she talked to feel seen, heard, and valued.

Wendy earned her BA in History from UC Santa Barbara in 1992, where she was an active member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority and where friends would simply say "that's just Wendy" with a shrug, shake of the head, and smile, no matter what she said. She then pursued her Doctor of Law degree at the University of Colorado Boulder, where she served as President of Phi Alpha Delta and distinguished herself by winning both the CU Mock Trial Competition and the Northwest Regional Mock Trial Competition.

Her legal career began memorably when she successfully prosecuted a man for calling a woman a name that cannot be printed here—and won, much to everyone's delight. Her career spanned over two decades, during which she served as Deputy District Attorney for Adams County, Guardian Ad Litem attorney serving Arapahoe County, General Counsel at several Silicon Valley start up/tech companies, Director of Ops/Anti Piracy for the Motion Picture Association in EMEA and most recently as an independent consultant.

Above all, Wendy was a loving and dedicated mother to her kids, Carolyn and Avery Ryan, showing incredible self-sacrifice and the most beautiful example of love, anyone had ever witnessed. She was the kind of mom who threw epic princess parties, let kids use her dad's "big ass Suburban" as a playground toy, made separate meals for kids and adults at backyard dinner parties, survived San Francisco police stations after car break-ins at Pier 39 (and somehow made even that a hilarious adventure), and always managed to turn life's chaos into unforgettable memories.

Wendy was legendary for making friends with everyone she met—especially every dog! She would stop to talk to every dog wherever she went, and when once asked by a date "are you here for me or my dog?" she honestly replied, "your dog!"

Her friends will forever remember her trademark closing line: "I love you more!"—always said right before hanging up so you couldn't say it back. She was the friend who made every moment better, who showed love, commitment, and compassion even in her toughest moments, giving so much of herself to others without ever asking for anything in return.

Wendy is survived by her kids Carolyn and Avery Ryan; her mother Nancy Walsh; her brother Scott McCallum and family; and countless friends whose lives were forever changed by knowing her, who considered her their sister for decades. She was preceded in death by her father, John McCallum.

In lieu of flowers, we suggest donations to local animal welfare organizations, because Wendy would definitely want more dogs to be happy. Celebrations of life will be held so we can share memories and honor the extraordinary impact Wendy had on us all. More details to come.

So this one time, we get to say it: We love you more, Wendy. You made our world better, and the world is definitely less sparkly without you in it.

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