Geraldine I Hauser

September 16, 1926 – May 16, 2011

Geraldine Irene Hauser was born and raised in Chicago. For a brief time, she was called by her nickname Jerry, but later became known to all as Dena. She married Sheldon Chazdon in 1949 and had four children. They divorced in 1965. She later married Isidore Hauser in 1968. In Chicago, Dena raised four children and volunteered in the community, including service to public schools, local civil rights organizations, and Hadassah. Dena joyfully participated in many local talent shows, fulfilling her childhood fantasy of starring in musical productions.

A major milestone came in 1974 when Dena moved to Boulder. Dena used her move to Boulder as an opportunity to continue her education. She won a training award from Soroptomist International of Boulder in 1978. She obtained an Associate Degree in Early Childhood Education and Management from Front Range Community College in 1979 and a BA in Sociology from CU in 1982. Dena embraced Boulder’s culture and climate, exploring hiking trails, enjoying cross country skiing, and playing tennis. Boulder’s natural beauty and active culture were a source of inspiration. She became involved in many non-profits and charitable organizations, such the Sierra Club and supporting the rights of mobile home owners. Dena was honored with the Thistle Award for her many contributions to the cause of affordable housing.

Dena wore many hats during her working years in Boulder. Her favorite jobs were administrative assistant at the Boulder Women’s Resource Center and childcare provider at the East Boulder Recreation Center. Dena coordinated the Christmas and Easter dinners at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless for 10 years and volunteered at Emergency Family Assistance Association (EFAA), managing the food pantry and helping countless families receive the sustenance they needed. She was chair of the Social Action Committee at Congregation Bonai Shalom for several years. In 2004, Dena took up the cause of access to public transportation, installing a makeshift bench at the RTD stop at the intersection of 17th and Yarmouth.

Dena loved art, theater, classical music, and ballet. She was a frequent patron of the Boulder Philharmonic, spending many happy hours enjoying concerts in Macky Auditorium. Dena was an avid reader and writer. Her article “My Story,” was featured in the Daily Camera on August 8, 1976. She penned her own collection of poetry, “A Gift of Words,” in September 1996 and wrote her autobiography on May 10, 2000.

Following is an excerpt from one of later poems, “Being Alive”, written in May 2004:

Being Alive

Is welcoming the dawn of each new day

Is noticing how blue the sky is and how white the clouds are

Is watching new flower seeds sprout

Is sinking my teeth into a cream filled chocolate éclair

Is getting around Boulder with my Eco Pass

Is listening to my Indian bells tinkling in the hot wind in mid-May

Is rocking on my yellow glider on my front porch

Is making beef stew in my crockpot with no recipe

NOW I KNOW THAT I AM ALIVE

Dena is survived by her husband, Dr. Isidore Hauser, children Carol Chazdon (Professor Robert Amend) of Boulder; Dr. Robin Chazdon (Dr. Robert Colwell) of Storrs, CT;and Dr. Scott (Dr. Ellen) Chazdon of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren Jessica, Rachel, Valerie, Charlie, Hannah and Leah; step-children Freda Hauser (Kristzina Morin), David Hauser, and Sarah Allison; step-grandchildren Samuel Foster (Alauna), Artemas Foster, Dena Corcoran (Brian), and Samantha Files, and step-great grandsons Bryce and Brent.

Donations in her honor can be made to the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless and EFAA.