Former Omaha real estate developer remembered for devotion to the arts

John W. Madden Jr., 94, “passed away peacefully from natural causes” on Jan. 19 at his home in Greenwood Village, Colorado, his family said in a statement. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie Putt Madden in 2014, and is survived by daughter, Cynthia Madden Leitner, sons, Scott Madden and J. Madden; sisters, Jane Crosby and Susan Madden Lankford; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He was born to John Worthington Madden Sr., and Doris Pinkerton Madden in Omaha on April 12, 1929. Madden graduated from Benson High School and from what was then Omaha University with a bachelor’s degree in English in 1951. He also received an honorary degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 1990.

He and his wife were married in 1950, while he attended college. Madden went on to co-found Pinkerton, Madden, Burford Insurance.

In 1969, he founded the John Madden Company that grew into a major commercial real estate development firm. After several successful development projects in Omaha, Iowa and California, he relocated the company to Colorado in the 1970s.

The company is responsible for building more than 10 million square feet of office and mixed-use space. It is known for its innovative mix of art, architecture and landscaping. Accomplishments include the Greenwood Athletic Club, the Museum of Outdoor Arts and Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre.

In addition to his business ventures, Madden was an avid supporter of education, the arts, and health and fitness. He co-founded the Museum of Outdoor Arts, with his wife, and daughter, in 1981. He and his son J. developed Club Greenwood, an athletic club in Greenwood Village.

Madden also founded the Colorado Business Committee for the Arts and the Madden Museum, which houses an extensive art collection. This collection was contributed to the University of Denver in 2016.

Memorial services will be held at a later date.