OLSSON, Hugo A.

Hugo A. Olsson, beloved husband and father, and popular uncle to 21 nieces and nephews, passed away peacefully in Tucson on June 7, 2003. Born in 1920 in New Kensington, PA, Hugo moved west in 1923 with his parents and younger brother Edward (now deceased). Siblings Abbie Jane (deceased), Robert, and Fred were born in Arizona. Hugo was a standout athlete at Glendale Union High School (class of '38), Phoenix College and A.S.U. In 1943, after earning his pilot's wings in Corpus Christi, TX, Hugo married his childhood sweetheart, Alice Mason. During World War II he was a Marine Corps fighter pilot in the battle of Guadalcanal and was awarded the Purple Heart. After the war, Hugo earned a degree in Architectural Engineering at the University of Colorado before returning to Arizona where, with partner George Allan, he designed custom homes, schools, hospitals, churches, and other municipal and institutional buildings. He served as president of the Arizona Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, advisor to Madison School District, and a member of the Board of Trustees at First Baptist Church, Phoenix. Hugo was a founding member of the Aurora Kiwanis Club in Phoenix. He maintained his flying skills for business purposes, earning a civilian multi-engine instrument rating. Hugo and Alice moved to Tucson in 1974 when he became Director of Facilities Planning for Pima Community College, a position he held until retirement 12 years later. An accomplished watercolorist, Hugo gave painting classes in his spare time and served as president of the Southern Arizona Watercolor Guild. In retirement, Hugo continued painting and enjoyed delving into computer graphics. Fond of mountain air and scenery, he and Alice, who cherishes his memory, loved spending summers in Payson. They traveled extensively, participating in numerous Elderhostel programs in the U.S.A. and Europe. Hugo blessed his children Eric (wife Claudia Halsell, Tucson), Jan (husband Christian Larrieu, Paris, France), and Neil (College Station, Texas) with life, an eye for the aesthetic, and an enduring spirit of optimistic curiosity. His influence will continue in everything we do. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on June 21, 2003, at Casas Adobes Congregational Church, 6801 N. Oracle Rd., Tucson. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to your favorite charity. Published in The Arizona Republic on 6/15/2003.