AURORA: Steve Hogan’s loved ones celebrate life of former mayor
Friends, family and colleagues of Steve Hogan stood Saturday in front of a vibrant community at Heritage Christian Center church to honor the most recent Aurora mayor’s life. Hogan died of cancer a week ago at age 69, and those who knew him best testified that his heart beat in the name of public service right up through his final moments.
Family member Marcus Pachner said Hogan was so gracious in his last days that he not only “meticulously” planned his own funeral ceremony but made time for each loved one to comfort them in their grief and share how much he loved them.
“And then he actually made some minor policy suggestions,” Pachner said, eliciting belly laughs from the crowd who knew how deeply Hogan cared for his community.
Passionate songs of faith and moments of prayer were interspersed among touching eulogies and somber ceremonial proceedings, such as the Aurora police and fire chiefs presenting Hogan’s wife, Becky, with an American flag.
They kneeled in front of Hogan’s wife, whose shoulders racked with sobs. The uniformed men spoke in whispers to the widow until she embraced them in a hug.
Gov. John Hickenlooper, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and other politicians sat nearby, coming to pay their respects to the man who spent more than 40 years as a public servant in the state. Hogan was a state representative and was an Aurora City Council member for 24 years. He was serving his second term as mayor before he passed.
“Steve Hogan was known under many titles in his life, but to me he was just Dad,” said son Tim Hogan.
Tim spoke of his dad’s accomplishments as the executive director of the E-470 Public Highway Authority, noting that many may think of his father when they drive by the recently extended Sixth Avenue project, but that Tim will remember the E-470 location as the spot his dad took him and his sister, Elizabeth, to watch Halley’s Comet when they were children.
Tim reminisced about family dinners spent discussing politics and coveting Steve’s spaghetti sauce recipe. The family enjoyed traveling together and laughing over glasses of wine.
George “Skip” Noe, who served as Aurora’s city manager during Hogan’s terms as mayor, remembered the strength the mayor exhibited during one of the city’s most difficult moments — the Aurora theater massacre.
“He was a rock,” Noe said. “He understood the importance of being that strong, reassuring person.”
Hogan made sure to attend all the funerals of those who lost their lives that day, Noe said, and continued to be a healing presence in the community long after.