- Date Of Birth: November 18, 1942
- Date Of Death: October 20, 2021
- State: Colorado
Jude Thaddeus Mason — beloved husband, brother, father, uncle and friend — passed away in Denver surrounded by family.
Jude was born to Jonas and Vivian Mason in Ville Platte, Louisiana, where Cajun and Creole traditions run deep. Family and friends from Louisiana built Jude’s solid foundation, passion for educators and love for fishing and good music, food and company — a background he felt privileged to have.
He made his way west and graduated from the College of Santa Fe to start a career in education. Jude was a middle school teacher in Santa Fe and later became the first African American president on NEA-NM, the teacher’s association. Jude loved everything New Mexico and was a proud educator advocate.
He then worked for the Colorado Education Association in the San Luis Valley and in Denver. Delivering a steady and strong voice for teachers and support staff made Jude happy. Friends and colleagues in the valley and in Gunnison held a special place in his heart. Jude and his wife Lynne Garramone Mason’s home in Alamosa also served as base for many beloved fishing, hiking and other outdoor adventures with family and friends.
Denver became home to Jude and Lynne, where they shared many happy times with the Garramone family. Jude was an avid Denver sports fan and a regular at Broncos and Rockies games. He loved to cook gumbo for friends.
Whether it was making his famous salsa for others, bringing life to the party with his harmonica, or drawing huge smiles everywhere he went with his kind spirit, there was never a social event or adventure that Jude didn’t love.
Jude’s generosity, his positive outlook on life and his big heart made the rooms he entered happier. His spirit lives on in the humble, happy and generous acts of those whose lives he touched.
He is survived by Lynne, his brother Raymond, mother-in-law Bonnie, sisters-in-law Julia, Jill, Kim and Meliss, brothers-in-law Bryan and Chris, nephews Reg (wife Tiffany, children D’Kari and Daryan), Nicholas, Luke (wife Sunny, children Riley and Isaac), Vince (wife Saranga, children Jaya and Shail), Joe, Max (wife Shayna) and Jack (wife Reanna, children Saylor and Mike), nieces Vivian, Raenada, Nikki (daughter Madison). His son James Mason and brother Lloyd and sister-in-law Clara preceded him in death.
