Richard Edward Hugo

Richard Edward Hugo, age 84, died at Applewood Our House in Lakewood, Colorado on November 27th, 2025. Rich grew up in Kirkwood, MO, where he forged lifelong friendships and graduated from Kirkwood High School in 1960. He studied music at Westminster College before finishing his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at the University of Missouri, where he met and married Betty Sue Eilerts (div, 1985).

While at Mizzou, Rich played the guitar and banjo and sang in folk bands, including the Swagman Trio, which was chosen to represent the state of Missouri at the 1962 Worlds Fair in Seattle and also performed at a political fundraiser in which Harry Truman was a guest.

For 32 years, Rich was a beloved choir director and guitar teacher. His choirs at Carlsbad Mid-high School in Carlsbad, NM and Hinkley and Gateway High Schools in Aurora, Colorado received many accolades. They received several top awards at state competitions in Colorado. During that time, he also served as the National Choir Director’s Association president.

Rich shared with his family his passion for music and his life-long love of the outdoors, including camping, canoeing, fishing, and hiking. He was a talented woodworker and an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Denver Broncos and Rockies.

Rich met the love of his life, Carol O’Brien, in 1995 and they married in 2004. They spent the better part of 30 years joyfully chasing the elusive trout with Rich lending his marvelous tenor voice to various music groups in the Denver area and Carol always singing along in the audience.

He is survived by his wife Carol, his three children Rick Hugo (Jen Carlson), Mary Aversa, and Tim Hugo (Kate), sister Maria Sewell, stepdaughters Katy Cox, Jennifer Lillis, and Portia Curlee, and 5 grandchildren-Alex, Neva, Nora, Paul and Lucy. He was preceded in his death by his parents, Richard Charles and Rosemary Hugo.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to Hospice of Denver, Denver Rescue Mission, or Denver Dumb Friends League.

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