Harold H. Suazo

Born in Denver, Colorado to William (Bill) Suazo and Theresa Marie (Aragon) Suazo, Harold was the first of 5 children. He was raised in Brighton, Colorado and spent much of his childhood with his cousins and siblings at his grandmother’s home (Aragon) and his aunt’s house (Montoya) there in Brighton. With these three family houses just blocks away from each other, the cousins roamed the streets and survived many adventures (and injuries) on the north end of town. He also spent most Sundays with the Suazo/Rodriguez side of the family in Longmont (paternal grandparents). He was raised in a devout Catholic family and served as an altar boy for several years. His Catholic and Christian faith was a very deep and personal anchor for him throughout life. He was also raised in a family of musicians. He had early memories and many stories of his grandfather, father, uncles, and later cousins, sharing music and song. This love of music and sharing it with family and offering it to God remained very strong throughout his life.

He went to school in Brighton, until his family moved to Northglenn in 1964 and he graduated in the first “true” graduating class of the new Northglenn High School in 1968. He played trumpet in the band, and took part in drama, starring as the lead male in the production of “Our Town” his senior year. He also spent much time after school and during summers taking care of his younger brothers and sisters. He worked at “Gino’s” Italian Restaurant during high school, and then for several years after. He spoke very fondly of this time, and the mentorship and influence of Gino DiPaolo (the boss who didn’t fire or kill him, though he probably deserved it). It was during this season that the friendship was formed and strengthened with Dave Katz, his lifetime best friend and honorary brother. To this day, the stories of Harold and Dave’s shenanigans at “Gino’s” are favorites among family and friends.

After high school graduation, he attended Regis University, where he graduated in 1972 with a Sociology degree. It was during this season that he met Mary Esther Humphrey of Brighton, Colorado and he spent many hours driving from Northglenn to Greeley, Colorado during their courtship while she attended Colorado State College (Now University of Northern Colorado). This was a busy season of juggling school, working at Gino’s, and spending time with his girl. They couldn’t wait until graduation from college, so in June 1971 they married in Northglenn, Colorado with a large family wedding party and many friends and family in attendance.

After their nuptials, they lived in Brighton and commuted to complete their college coursework. They both graduated in 1972. After getting married, Harold started working at Cudahy Meat Packing Plant and spent a year in Law School at University of Colorado.

Harold worked for Adam’s County Government and earned his Master’s Degree in City Administration. He worked with the county commissioner’s office and eventually left government to work as a buyer for Storage Tech and switched industries.

After this he worked in the field of Electronics Sales and worked for many different companies in an industry that was constantly changing and advancing very quickly. He enjoyed the pace and intrigue of this industry and the variety of people he got to meet. He enjoyed listening to customers’ problems or issues with components and working hard to provide new, innovative, and helpful solutions.

Harold also played in several wedding bands during this time and later several mariachi groups. He played and sang in the worship bands and/or choirs at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, and the Denver Cathedral for many years.

In 1978, Harold and Mary started a family, bought property and built their dream home in Henderson, Colorado. They had 3 daughters, Lisa, Lora and Abrian, and raised them in this home. The family planted many trees, established a yard, playground, and vegetable garden. It was in this place they raised their family, explored the South Platte floodplain, and hosted many family gatherings.

In addition to work, music, and family he stayed very busy attending activities and performances for his daughters who were involved in band, piano, voice, dance, cheer, athletics, and drama during their school years. He was extremely proud of their accomplishments and spoke highly of them to anyone who would listen!

After 25 years of marriage, he and Mary divorced in 1995. He remarried in 2006 to Michele (Siegfried) Suazo and they were married for 10 years.

Both of Harold’s parents grew up in New Mexico and he was very interested in researching the family’s genealogy and visiting remaining family in the Las Vegas and surrounding areas of New Mexico. This was a passion and interest for the past 30+ years and his basement was full of family trees and pieces of the puzzle of our extensive family history.

His final employment was working for Tiger Technologies, an electronics manufacturing company, which became a family for him. He loved working for Tiger and enjoyed interacting with both the Denver-based office and warehouse employees as well as their Shanghai-based counterparts. He also met and worked closely with employees at Echostar, Tiger’s largest customer at the time. During his time working for Tiger, he enjoyed several “work” trips to China with corresponding “play” trips to Thailand and other areas in Southeast Asia. These trips included spouses and this group over the years became a special family that was very close. He spoke very fondly of his time at Tiger and it was difficult for him to retire and leave this family.

After retirement, he enjoyed numerous family gatherings, trips to see grandkids, breakfasts with cousins, and compiling his music wall of fame in his home. His home was full of pictures of his 3 daughters, 5 grandkids, and old pictures from his childhood.

Harold spent time in the hospital in early November 2021 and discharged on hospice. He spent the next 3 weeks at home in his daughters’ care with many wonderful visits and correspondences from friends and family. He made a miraculous recovery and was admitted to a rehabilitation center in December to strengthen his body in order to return to independent living. His recovery was cut short with a sudden shutdown of his heart, lungs, and body systems. Harold passed away on December 19, 2021 in Denver with his 3 daughters by his side.

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Harold took pride in his appearance: clean shaven, hair short (always cut by his sister Sue) and combed (which his father taught him and insisted on from a young age).

He loved music and sharing music with people. He came from a long line of musicians and he loved the connection he felt with generations of his family by keeping music alive and passing it on to his family and friends. Music was also very spiritual for him and something he believed could be offered to God in reverence and worship.

He loved history, especially American history during wartime, and read many books in this genre. He probably could have written a few, especially on the JFK assassination and World War II Aircraft.

He valued family and believed God had blessed him with the best family. He loved and respected his parents; he treasured his brothers and sisters and said he practically raised the younger ones; he bragged about his 54 first cousins, many of which were more like siblings to him; he was extremely proud of his 3 girls, taking every opportunity to brag about them; he was extremely affectionate and playful with his 5 grandchildren.

He was very personable and loved to tell stories. He made many friends at the restaurants that he regularly frequented, with the employees he worked with, in the neighborhoods he lived in, and with the strangers he happened to meet. With his generous and outgoing nature, he made friends easily and was well liked by so many!

He was especially proud to bugle at the military funerals of veterans. He was not a veteran, but he felt it a special duty and great honor to play taps at these ceremonies. It was his gift to these heroes and their families, and he devoted a lot of time to this. He played at the funerals of many friends, family members, and strangers throughout the years. He was also a proud auxiliary member of the VFW Post 7945. He enjoyed visiting a cemetery just before sunset and playing taps, near a flag or prominent hill as the day concluded.

Harold had a great sense of humor. He liked to tease his friends and family, and tell a funny story. Even when he was sick or in pain, he would find something humorous to joke and laugh about.

Harold was preceded in death by his father, Bill; brother, Dan; and many beloved aunts and uncles.

He is survived by his 3 daughters: Lisa Suazo (Scott), Lora Saeler (Chad), Abrian London (Dave); 5 grandchildren: Padon, Sisera, and Reaiah Saeler, Gavin and Elina London; sisters, Mary Kloepfur (Warren), Sue Ehalt (George); brother Chris Suazo; as well as many beloved cousins and aunts and uncles.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the SUAZO family.