Alexander "Alex" David Haug

With deep regret, we announce the passing of Alexander “Alex” David Haug, beloved son of Karen and David Haug and loving brother of Annika Haug. Adored grandson of James Roy Conway, the late Lourdes Pichardo de Conway, and the late Lydia & Lloyd Haug. Cherished nephew of Eric and Eliza Conway and Dan and Tiina Haug; first cousins Hailey, Cale, and Joel Haug and Eric Gabriel and James Conway; godparents, and formal and informal extended family.

A native Houstonian and Texan, Alex was born on Texas Independence Day, the 2nd of March 2004, and left his family and friends too soon, on the 18th of October 2021. He was 17 years of age.

Alex was an accomplished senior in the founding class at Saint Francis Episcopal Upper School. He helped found several boys sports and led rousing cheers for the girls teams. He was elected Student Council President and led the technical team for theatre productions and chapel services. He was a beautiful, sensitive, and whip-smart young man whose clever and witty sense of humor and spirited audaciousness will be remembered by all who knew him. He relished freedom, sometimes violating the school dress code and device rules in subtle ways, and was committed to student advocacy at school. He enjoyed going on adventures with his family. He had many friends but especially loved spending time with the close group of seniors he considered like his brothers and sisters, a group who meant so much to Alex. He was passionate about being outdoors – whether on high adventure trips, exploring and hiking, spending summers in the Dominican Republic, or snow skiing, diving, and spearfishing.

Alex was intellectually curious and incredibly bright. He loved learning. Eager to mine and soak in as much as he could learn about any topic, he vastly preferred to figure things out himself rather than being taught. He was a National Merit Commended and National Hispanic Scholar and became a leader in nearly every activity in which he became involved. When it came to figuring out any problem or challenge, you can bet Alex was on top of it, or trying to find new ones. He had a knack and natural talent for anything mechanical or technical. His favorite activity was watching instructional videos to learn how to build, rig, program, or create things.

Alex was a longtime member of Troop 641 of the Boy Scouts of America and qualified for the highest rank of Eagle Scout. He was selected to the Troop’s highest leadership role after several other positions, and this led to his confidence to serve as president of the student council. But flying and space were Alex’s first loves. Since the age of five, Alex aspired to fly for the military, become an astronaut, go to Mars, and then design spacecraft as an aeronautical engineer. He enjoyed politics, and his favorite flag was Don’t Tread On Me. He represented his school and was a Party Platform Chair at Texas Boys State, proud that he led his party candidates toward winning most of the elections. He attended the West Point Summer Leader Experience, where he took his first steps toward achieving his lifelong military goal.

Until mid-October 2021, Alex remained the same spirited and grounded person he had been throughout his entire life. He was a fearless, curious, charismatic fighter, but struggled with self-confidence and artificially inflated, unspoken standards. He slipped into a depression during his final days without warning. His decision to take his own life – a life of accomplishment and promise – was completely unexpected and shocked everyone who knew him.

Since his death, so many have written and recalled how fortunate they were to have known or mentored Alex. How free everyone felt to be themselves when around him. How much of a leader and mentor he was to so many. Alex’s light will never dim, and his short time in the world will fill many with the adventurous spirit he felt in life and shared with his family and friends. He lived fully until he was seventeen, and will continue to live on as his soul and spirit fly with the Lord.

A funeral mass is to be conducted at two o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, the 27th of October, at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston, where Fr. Juan Torres will celebrate.

Immediately following, all are invited to attend a celebration of his life in the nearby Parish Center.

In lieu of customary remembrances, the family respectfully suggests donations in Alex’s name be directed to the Flying With Alex Foundation (www.flyingwithalex.org), which will focus on strengthening teens to face and discuss insecurity, humiliation, emotional distress, and unrealistic social media pressures.

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