It is with an unmeasurable amount of sadness that the family of Harold Keith Hodson, age 35 years, announce his sudden passing from natural causes at his home in Denver, Colorado on November 4th, 2021. A Celebration of Keith’s life was held November 13th, at The Stone House in Lakewood, Colorado. The Natural Funeral in Lafayette, Colorado, handled the family’s needs and wishes with compassionate understanding and support.
Keith was born on July 17th, 1986 to Rick and Liz Hodson in Burlington, N.C. Keith graduated from Graham High School in 2004, and he went on to study at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy with a focus on social and economic justice in 2008, Keith worked for several years for Habitat for Humanity. Keith also volunteered with AmeriCorps, passionately working with students to prepare them for higher education, careers, and life upon graduation from high school.
He advanced his studies and obtained his Master of Arts in Political Science from Appalachian State University in 2012. Keith pursued his doctorate degree at the University of California, Davis, spending several years in Sacramento teaching political science and conducting research on a number of public policy strategies, including innovative responses to homelessness.
Keith moved to Denver, Colorado, in 2018 to pursue his career in research. He was working in the Office of Research and Statistics for the state Department of Criminal Justice at the time of his death. His work focused on the sharing of data between jails, healthcare providers, and others in an effort to improve people’s lives.
Keith was predeceased by father, Richard Keith Hodson, and his paternal and maternal grandparents.
Keith is survived by his mother, Liz Hodson, and sister, Katie Hodson, (Gibsonville, North Carolina) as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that span the globe.
In his personal life, Keith met dozens of friends through sports like ultimate Frisbee, running, and, most recently, skiing. To his teammates, he was known affectionately as “Big Sugar.” He read widely and savored music, especially on vinyl. He could hold forth on any topic in conversations that were sure to be illuminating and opinionated. He loved to bring together new groups of friends.
His friends and family will forever treasure his loyalty, his genius sense of adventure, his humor, his intelligence, and his care.
He loved this life, and he made each day more brilliant for those around him. He wanted nothing more than to enjoy this world in the present, but also to improve it for the future. In his absence, he would ask us all to do the same.
He left too soon — he surely would have done great things in the years to come — but he’ll be held close forever by the countless people who loved him.
I invite all who are willing to share, a story of Keith that will allow us all to read how this one very special man made a difference to those he befriended and loved. First though…about me.
I loved Keith first, and will love him always, my son.
I knew what to stock in the fridge/freezer when Keith visited.
I ended up with all of The New Yorker magazines he hung onto for several years.
I am the woman who met an extraordinary group of people, as we came together in Colorado to celebrate his life.
I witnessed love, and felt comfort and acceptance beyond measure.
Thank you,
Liz Hodson
Wow 🤩 what a wonderful tribute! Think of both, and him every day! Weren’t we so lucky to have him in our presence ❤️🥰🤗
Hi Ms. Hodson,
You probably do not remember me. My grandparents, Clarence and Irene Vaughn, lived on Freemont Court in Gibsonville. When I was a child, I would visit relatively frequently and you and your family would always be so kind to me and I would play with Keith and Katie. I used to so look forward to coming to visit my grandparents because I so loved running around the neighborhood with your children and the other kids (Robert and Ashley and others). My grandparents have long been gone, but I frequently remember those days with love. I remember Keith as such a kind young man. I was so sad when you all moved.
Please know that you are all in my prayers, and that your family very positively impacted this random person who just barely knew you. I can’t imagine all the good and all the love that Keith brought into the world during the rest of his life.
God be with you,
My brother, his dad, was so proud of him and his sister. What a legacy to have such feelings expressed about his passing from a too short life. All the lives he touched and the potential for greater accomplishments lost. We are beyond sad.
One of the earliest stories I have to share about Keith happened over Halloween weekend in 2016. We decided to go out together that weekend to celebrate Halloween. Our first stop was the Torch Club for live music. He told me he had a surprise, then hopped behind the bar and found a back room where he disappeared into for a few minutes. When he came back out, he had transformed into a giant TRex, donning this huge and fan-powered costume complete with a giant tail. I know everyone who played ultimate frisbee with SUPA knew and loved that costume.
We then walked K Street before ultimately ending up at Old Iron Sides, but not before nearly everyone we passed stopped Keith to take a picture with him. Everyone from drunk frat bros to couples to groups of single women out for the night wanted a photo and Keith was genuinely so happy to oblige. The fact that other people got such a kick out of the costume made him so happy. I remember him laughing that big, deep laugh from inside of this absurd and very tall costume. I also remember that it was difficult for him to see out of the costume, so I held his hand to guide him down the sidewalk. We must have looked ridiculous.
One of my favorite memories with Keith, was running out of the movie theater when the T-Rex in Jurassic Park let out her ferocious roar. We were forever in love with dinos ever since. One time our parents purchased a new refrigerator and 80’s babies knew how to have a good time! We used the massive box as the jeep in the movie and took turns being the T-Rex stomping on our cardboard jeep… with one of us in it. We could not stop laughing. It was awesome. Keith was my first best friend, my Achilles heel, and the only person on this planet I could always go to for a place to vent, ramble, or share my ideas. Best brover ever. I will ache my whole life and push forward and make you proud.