Ruby Y. Hada

Ruby Yuriko Sasa Hada passed away peacefully on August 7th, 2022 after her brave fight against Pancreatic Cancer.  Ruby Yuriko Sasa was the first born to Gene and Haruko Sasa on December 26th, 1941.  Being the first grandchild in the family she was very special.  Ruby grew up on the farm in Brighton where her parents grew cantaloupe, watermelon, peas, peppers and sugar beets.  This was not a lifestyle she enjoyed, but she found her calling in cooking and cleaning.  The one time she did help to pick peppers, she had an asthma attack and had to quit.

She attended Henderson Elementary, North Junior High and Brighton High School.  In High School she was very popular and very involved.   She was inducted in National Honor Society, attended Girl’s State winning an essay contest by the Daughters of the American Revolution, won several other scholarships including the JAA scholarship, was President of every organization she joined and was crowned the first Miss Bussei in a contest held in Brighton. 

Her college years were the most fun years of her life.  She loved learning and loved going to class.  Ruby always wanted to be a teacher and was on the education path at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  She graduated from CU with a BS in Elementary Education.  She was immediately hired by the Adams 12 Five Star District in Northglenn.  She taught there for 38 years at various schools, teaching various grade levels, fifth grade being her favorite.  During this time her class scored the highest writing score in the state after they implemented the Writing Standardized Test.  She also started the Young Scholars Program at Hulstrom Elementary.  It was one of the first “option schools” offered in District 12.  She and Velma Kusuno met all the requirements for the district.  It started in 1996-97 and ended in 2010.  Ruby would say they educated many students that became doctors, successful writers, nurses and teachers because they stressed academics at their Young Scholars Program.

During that time, she married Ted Hada, a successful produce manager at King Soopers, they had their beautiful baby girl, Jill in 1970.  Jill went on to graduate from the University of Colorado following the Sasa tradition.

Ruby was an avid sports fan but was especially dedicated to the Colorado Buffalo Football team.  She held season tickets from the minute she graduated from CU and went to every game until she got sick.  She would defend her Buffs no matter how many games they lost.  She followed them to a few Bowl games and enjoyed every minute.  She also joined the Buffalo Belles, the largest women’s athletic support group in the nation.  While in the Buff Belles they would get together before every football game to support their team and raise money for all student athletes.  Ruby also served on the Colorado University Alumni Board.  She was a supporter of higher education in so many ways.

Ruby was a faithful member of the Simpson United Methodist Church in Arvada, Colorado.  She was active in the choir, the One Committee, helped on many other church committees, especially food preparation and cooking, and enjoyed her fellowship there.

She was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in June of 2021, 8 chemo treatments to shrink tumor, Whipple Surgery to remove tumor on October 4th, 2021, hospital for 2-3 weeks, Rehab for 2 weeks, went to the Oberon House Assisted Living in November of 2021. In February 2022 she had 2 more chemo treatments and stayed in the great care of the Oberon until August 7th, 2022.

Ruby Hada is survived by a daughter, Jill Aretun, grandson, Svante (19), granddaughter, Kiyo (14); brother, Floyd Sasa (Carol), nephew, Garrick Sasa (Lisa), grandnephew, Colton Sasa (Kylee), grandniece Kumiko Barks (Scott), niece Courtney Golan (Tim), grandniece, Makenzie; niece, Kendra Gothard (David), grandniece, Addison, grandniece, Brecken, grandnephew, Caden, nephew, Renick Christopherson (Anna), grandnephew, Charlie; brother, Paul Sasa (Janet), grandniece, Leslie Sasa (Dathan); sister, Phyllis Nakagawa (Bryan), grandnephew, Dustin Nakagawa (Shannon), grandniece, Ashley Nakagawa (Alex).

Thank you to everyone that supported her during her illness, we appreciate every card, phone call, visit, food drop, car ride and smile that you brought.   Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 10:00 am at Simpson Methodist Church, 6001 Wolff Street, Arvada, Colorado 80003. Following the service the family invites everyone to join them for a reception held at the church.