Ernest Frank Fazekas II

1947 - 2016

Ernest Frank Fazekas II obituary, 1947-2016, Castle Rock, CO

FUNERAL HOME

Olinger Andrews Caldwell Gibson Chapel

407 Jerry Street

Castle Rock, Colorado

Ernest Fazekas Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Dec. 22, 2016.

Ernest "Ernie" F. Fazekas II
Ernie Fazekas was a passionate leader in all pursuits of his life including his family, community, business, and friends. Spirited and fun-loving, he valued the outdoors and hiked whenever he could. This love of the natural world shaped Ernie's passion for land conservation and he was instrumental in securing open spaces for Douglas County and Colorado. He loved hiking in the San Juan Mountain and the trails around Crested Butte and Ouray. He also climbed several "fourteeners" over time.
Ernie moved to Colorado in 1982 and maintained until the end that there was no other place he'd rather have lived his adult life. One of Ernie's favorite quotes was, "If you are lucky enough to be in the mountains, you're lucky enough."
Born on October 26, 1947, in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, Ernie was the son of Helen Jeremias Fazekas and Ernest F. Fazekas. Ernie grew up in McKeesport and White Oak, Pennsylvania, both steel mill towns, where his family had strong ties to the Hungarian community. He was a special brother to his siblings, who both survive him: Donna Richards (Larry Dean, deceased) of Cary, North Carolina and Ken (Susie) Fazekas of Knightdale, North Carolina. Ernie is also survived by nieces and nephews, an aunt, Goldie Szarka, and cousins in Pennsylvania.
Education was important to Ernie, and he pursued it enthusiastically even in retirement. Ernie graduated from McKeesport Area High School in 1965. He received his Bachelor of Arts in 1969, Masters of Arts in 1971, and Juris Doctorate in 1976, all from the University of Pittsburgh. He attended Santa Clara University Law School and the University of Denver for graduate studies, the latter of which sparked his love for Colorado.
To help finance his education, Ernie worked as a motor chair operator on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey; in steel mills in the Mon Valley, Pennsylvania; in a tire warehouse, for a moving company, and as a campaign organizer for George McGovern in the 1972 Presidential Campaign.
After graduation from Law School in 1976 he clerked for Judge Carson V. Brown, in the 25th Judicial District, Clinton County, Pennsylvania for two years. From there he accepted a position with the Blatt, Blatt, Merrone & Biel Law Firm in Atlantic City. He left New Jersey to live in Colorado where he took a position with Folkestad & Kokish, P.C., in Castle Rock in 1983. The firm eventually became Folkestad Fazekas Barrick & Patoile, P.C. which it remains today. Ernie served as the firm's managing director from 1987-2007.
Ernie was always active in his community, believing strongly that giving to one's community was critical to building it. Some community contributions included: a founder, Director, and Vice President of Douglas County Land Conservancy, 1987-2007; President of Castle Pines North Metro District 1988-1992; and a founder, Director, and President of the Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation, 2012-2016. The Foundation, championed by Ernie as its President, was responsible for enhancing the Phillip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock, which is the Town's largest park project to date. Ernie was named Citizen of the Year by the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce in 2014 and recently received the Oak Leaf Award from Douglas Land Conservancy in November 2016.
Ernie retired from the practice of law on December 31, 2014. Retirement, daily hiking, and his continued community service on several non-profit Boards, were cut short by a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer in early 2016. Ernie fought cancer with the same passion as he lived life until one day he was "at peace with the cosmos" and ready to go. He died on December 17, 2016, too soon for those who loved him. He leaves behind his son, Chris Mullen-Fazekas, much loved grandson Connor Haller-Mullen, friend Susan Mullen, and his dog & hiking buddy Miner.
Family, friends and others whose lives were touched by Ernie are invited to a celebration of life on February 10, 2017, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Millhouse at the Philip S. Miller Park in Castle Rock. Donations in Ernie's memory can be made to either 1) the Castle Rock Parks and Trails Foundation online at the following link: http://crptfoundation.org/#!/donate or by sending checks to P.O. Box 724, Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104, or 2) to the Douglas Land Conservancy online: https://www.coloradogives.org/dlconservancy/overview or by check made to the Douglas Land Conservancy, mailed to P.O. Box 462, Castle Rock, Colorado, 80104.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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2 Entries

January 23, 2017

Sam Zolten

I only wish I had spent more time as an adult in Ernie's company. We spent wonderful times in McKeesport, sharing Hungarian DNA, as did many
"McKeesporters" and as teenagers my most cherished memories were when we shared a room at the Ocean Pacific Hotel in Atlantic City for an entire summer in1966. Those were glorious times, and when I think of when we worked together on the boardwalk as salesmen at "La Grande Maison Blanche" I can only smile. We desperately needed employment, having committed to being self sustaining. We told management that we spoke French, which was the clincher to get employment, since so many of their customers were tourists from Montreal, Canada. It took about a week before we were fired (our French was not so good I guess), and he then became a boardwalk roller chair operator- I was envious because he secured such a coveted position! Ernie taught me a great deal including that one could shave with only a dab of shaving creme rather than a dollop- he made that can of shaving creme last for a year ! Our times together that summer were the best imaginable.

When I learned of Ernie's battle with pancreatic cancer, we spoke on the telephone several times and the memories flowed and we laughed and Ernie's laugh was his signature. I am glad that we had those conversations and that we swore our love for each other at the conclusion of every conversation.

I have been working on a documentary film about McKeesport and McKeesport's Jewish community. The film, Missing McKeesport, is still a work in progress, and I was moved and honored to receive financial support for my Kickstarter campaign from Ernie and his reward for his contribution is a T-Shirt which I will send in his memory. I only wish he could have experienced the completed film. I just didn't get done in time.

My life is enhanced by having had his friendship. I will always cherish the time we spent together and I celebrate having had him in my life experience.

Ernie, you will be missed, and I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and friends, all, who will miss him dearly.

January 22, 2017

Sue Fazekas

Ernie AKA Osci...you will be so deeply missed by our family. We have lost too many to soon. You were a father figure to your brother and were loved more than you will ever know. We are grateful for the many happy memories and will hold them tightly in our hearts forever. Knowing you are pain free has helped us in accepting you are gone, but you will never be forgotten.... As you have quoted "THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE WITHOUT YOU" We love and miss you dearly Kenny, Susie, Jason, & Jessica xoxoxo

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