Elvert Collazos

Elvert Collazos was a man who believed in doing things properly. If he was painting a room, every edge would be meticulously taped, and the preparation usually took longer than the painting itself. If something broke, he wanted to understand why before figuring out how to fix it. And if you asked him a question, you could count on an answer, though it might be considerably longer and more detailed than you had in mind.

He was an engineer, after all. But he was also a loving husband, a devoted father and grandfather, a lifelong learner, a musician, a maker of things, and a man who never met a corny joke he couldn't tell again.

Elvert died on October 22, 2026, at age 85, after living with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. He was born on August 29, 1941, in Cali, Colombia, and studied electrical engineering at Universidad del Cauca in Popayán.

On New Year’s Eve 1965, while neighbors celebrated in the streets of Cali, Elvert met Linda, who was visiting a friend next door to his parents’ home. He tried to impress her by complimenting her beautiful blue eyes, only to be told they were green. His English was still developing, but apparently his charm translated well enough. They married on November 11, 1966, and were just weeks away from their 60th anniversary when he died.

The couple moved to the United States in 1967. Elvert later earned a master’s degree in industrial engineering at Louisiana State University, and in 1982 they settled in Houston. Colombia remained an important part of his life, and he returned often to spend time with his siblings and extended family.

Elvert and Linda loved to travel, shared a fascination with technology, and were as comfortable pursuing their own interests as spending time together. He loved giving her gifts, especially anything that might make her life easier or introduce her to some new technology, and he always encouraged her to get what she wanted rather than worry about the cost.

Elvert worked as a telecommunications engineer at Tenneco, Compaq, and Huntsman. He took pride in his work, but his family always came first. He made a point of being home in the evenings and was a steady, involved presence in the lives of Laura and David.

He lived by a strong sense of right and wrong, guided more by his own principles than by the opinions of others. He treated people with the same dignity and respect regardless of their position or circumstances. Titles and status held little importance for him; what mattered was how people treated one another. His generosity was equally unassuming. He might repair a bicycle to donate at Christmas or offer financial help and advice to a relative facing difficulties. After retiring, he spent years volunteering at Durham Elementary, working individually with children learning English and helping teachers with whatever needed doing. He saw where help was needed and offered what he could.

As a father, Elvert encouraged his children to be brave, capable, and confident in themselves. He taught them to take care of what they had, to be patient, and to take pride in doing things well. He was always ready to help with a broken appliance, a household project, or a math assignment. When David was prepared to dismantle his kitchen counter to make a repair, Elvert saved him the trouble by explaining that all he really needed was a basin wrench. Of course, asking for his help often meant receiving a thorough lesson in the problem, the principles behind it, and exactly how he thought it should be solved.

He was also a playful and affectionate father. He made up silly games, shared his love of The Muppets, Star Trek, and Star Wars, and passed along an enthusiasm for science fiction. He showed up for his children's activities even when they were unfamiliar to him. Though he hadn't grown up playing baseball in Colombia, he attended David's games and did his best to offer support. He gave hugs freely, spoke his love openly, and found countless practical ways to show how much he cared.

That devotion only grew when he became Papa to six grandchildren. He was a familiar presence at school pickups, parkour, and other after-school activities. He helped with projects, built Scout racing cars with Drew and Evan, and once constructed an enormous marble run from pipes that occupied much of the backyard. He rarely stood on the sidelines when there was something to build, explore, or figure out together. The grandchildren adored him and quickly discovered that if they wanted something, Papa was usually the one to ask. Saying no was not his strong suit, which often left Grandma to be the disciplinarian.

Elvert's curiosity extended far beyond his profession. He read widely, enjoyed woodworking, built and refinished furniture, and took pride in caring for his home and yard. He loved music and played the guitar. One of Laura's treasured memories is of him singing and playing "Sunrise, Sunset" at her wedding reception.

Naturally introverted, Elvert was not especially gifted at small talk. A casual conversation could quickly become a detailed explanation of something he found fascinating. He might resist attending a social gathering, only to enjoy himself once he arrived. He was unfailingly courteous and loved making people laugh, particularly restaurant servers, whom he sometimes asked with a mischievous smile for a discount. His jokes were rarely new, but that never diminished his enjoyment of telling them. No one could pass a cemetery with Papa without hearing that people were "dying to get in there."

For all his engineering knowledge, Elvert had a remarkably poor sense of direction. Following his directions in the days before navigation apps could easily add an hour to a trip. On one memorable drive from Mexico City to Guanajuato, he disregarded Linda's navigation, trusted his own instincts, and added hours to their journey. Even when GPS became available, he was reluctant to use it. And while he could patiently devote hours to getting a project just right, he could become decidedly impatient when things refused to cooperate.

Some of the smallest things are among those his family remembers most fondly. He always carried a handkerchief, ready to wipe up a spill or offer it to someone in tears. He cared for the people and things around him with the same quiet attentiveness. And although he insisted for years that dogs belonged outside, he eventually developed a great affection for Primo, the family's Coton de Tulear, who helped change his mind.

Alzheimer's gradually took away many of the things that had brought Elvert pleasure and purpose. His world grew smaller. Projects went unfinished, familiar activities fell away, and eventually even conversation became difficult. His family grieved these losses long before his death. Yet the qualities that mattered most endured. He remained gentle, gracious, and affectionate, thanking those who cared for him and expressing his love for his family. Even near the end, he greeted those he loved with the same familiar words: "I adore you."

Elvert is survived by his wife, Linda Ruth Collazos; his daughter, Laura Collazos Spiller, and her husband, Karl Kurt Maier; his son, David Thomas Collazos; and his six grandchildren, Drew and Kyle Spiller, and Sydney, Evan, Kate, and Owen Collazos. He is also survived by his sister, Eneida Collazos; his brother, Héctor Miguel Collazos, and his wife, Elvira Narváez; and their families. His former daughter-in-law, Jennifer Collazos, remains a loved member of the extended family. He was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Scott Spiller, and his brother-in-law, Raúl Salazar.

His family will remember him in countless ordinary moments: explaining something in more detail than anyone requested, playing his guitar, patiently working on a project, laughing at his own jokes, or reaching for his handkerchief when someone needed it.

And perhaps that is what he leaves behind most of all: a lifetime of small, everyday expressions of love, summed up in the words he said so often and so easily: "I adore you."

Celebration of Life

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Elvert's life on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM, at Pat H. Foley Funeral Home in Houston.

This will be an informal, come-and-go reception, with words of remembrance beginning at 2:45 PM. All who knew and loved Elvert are welcome to join us, share stories, and remember a life well lived.