David LaHoda died of heart failure on Wednesday, July 25 with the love of his family surrounding him. He was a writer/editor, a fly fisherman, a Shakespeare lover, an Italy aficionado, a tennis player, a talented cook, an eclectic reader, a Trivial Pursuit whiz, and a kind and gentle soul, but he would say that his greatest achievement was his children, Rachel and Ethan LaHoda. And they would say that he was the most amazing dad.
David was born on May 12, 1953 in Reading, PA to Paul John LaHoda and Pauline Breslawski LaHoda. He received a BA from Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and spent most of his career as a medical writer and editor, beginning at the American Medical Association in Chicago, continuing with hospitals in the Denver metro area, and ending with telecommuting from his home in Louisville to HCPro, Inc. in Massachusetts.
David married Susan Seder LaHoda in Chicago in 1985, and they moved to Colorado shortly thereafter. They lived in the mountains on the Peak to Peak Highway for their first two years in Colorado but moved to Louisville to raise their family. Their daughter Rachel was born in 1988, and their son Ethan was born in 1991. David spent many hours on the sidelines cheering on his children in their various sports and other activities, and he was the consummate dad. He also volunteered for the Colorado Shakespeare Festival and the Conference on World Affairs, and he read books for people who are visually impaired at CU. He loved the CU campus and often chose Frisbee Golf on the campus as part of his birthday celebration.
David was a warm, kind, and sensitive person who was deeply loved and will be deeply missed by his family and friends. In addition to his wife and children, he is survived by his parents Paul and Pauline LaHoda, his brother Bob LaHoda, his inlaws Art and Marion Seder, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Beth and Joe Whistler, and several nieces and their families. There will be a private celebration of David's life. In lieu of flowers, please direct any remembrance gifts to the Colorado Shakespeare Festival in David's memory: http://coloradoshakes.org/supporting-csf/make-a-contribution or CSF, University of Colorado Foundation, P.O. Box 7937, Boulder, CO 80306-9737. You may also leave comments or memories on the online guest registry at: darrellhowemortuary.com (Daily Camera, Boulder, Colorado, July 28, 2012)