Oscar Olin Hazen

Oscar Olin Hazen, having received his father’s first name, was known as Olin. He was born in Sacramento, California and spent his formative years in Sacramento, Stockton, Chico, and Los Angeles. His father, Oscar Willet Hazen worked for Standard Oil and his mother Vera Margaret (Howard) Hazen was a homemaker when Olin was young; she loved thrift shopping and the dress shop she managed as Olin grew older. Olin graduated from high school and started college in Chico, CA. He graduated from Claremont Men's College with a bachelor's degree in economics. He enlisted in the Army Reserves; after graduation from basic training he returned to Los Angeles to obtain his MBA from the University of Southern California. He then passed the CPA Examination. Olin held financial management positions with several large companies in the Los Angeles area. Olin married Joanne Miner in 1963. They had 2 children, Darcy Kathleen and Olin Bradford. Olin and Joanne built several homes while working and raising their family. Before leaving California, Olin and Joanne accepted Jesus Christ at a Billy Graham crusade. The family moved to Lakewood, Colorado in 1971. At a time when the computer industry was in its infancy and computers were physically very large, Olin purchased a business and provided computerized services in medical billing, payroll, general accounting and tax preparation for family businesses. Olin and Joanne were heavily involved in their church – leading the youth group, hosting bible studies and spending Sundays and holidays with family and church friends. The doors of their home were open to the children in the neighborhood, family, friends and missionaries. As often as not, a family friend or relative was living in the basement. Olin and Joanne divorced in 1980. In 1986, Olin married Sherry Clark; they later divorced. Olin sold the computer business and moved to Pagosa Springs where he built custom homes. Brad and Stephanie Hazen joined Olin to start this venture and Olin's father lived with him until 2000. Olin also began using his computer expertise to develop a program related to the stock market. He was involved in his church and loved mentoring younger men. In 2017, Olin's health insisted that he fully retire. He moved to Northern Nevada to be closer to his daughter. He again joined and impacted a Christian men’s group. In 2019, Olin suffered a stroke, his activities became more limited, and Reno became his home. Despite that, and the crippling social impact of COVID, Olin continued to see his family and positively impact those around him. As a young man, Olin was pretty determined and black and white in much of his thinking. Olin wasn't good at keeping in touch or small talk but he loved spending qualify time with those with which he was close. As he aged, his worldviews softened, but he never quit viewing everything through the lens of his Father and Savior. Olin loved his God, his family, and the great outdoors. He was a dedicated family man, supporting Darcy with her equestrian events and legal career and hunting and fishing with Brad. He loved to teach them and others to look toward the future, to consider the pros and cons, to understand the financial impact of decisions and develop a plan. Once Brad and Darcy left Colorado, Olin would travel to watch Brad race his motorcycle and fly to Brazil to visit Brad, Emma and granddaughter Anna Nicole. He traveled frequently to Nevada to visit Darcy, Howard and grandsons Seth Bradford and Zachary Olin. Olin was thoughtful to develop quality family times, always arranging for skiing, snowmobiling, horseback riding, or fishing when family would visit. He probably did more than he should - rollerblading with granddaughter Angela and coordinating a horse packing trip into the San Juan mountains with Howard, Seth and Zak when he was 72. He organized family reunions with the kids, grandkids, and nieces and nephews Chris, Lornie, and Stephanie Hazen. Patsy and Joanne Hazen attended at times. Campouts and gatherings with friends and family, early morning fishing, an afternoon cup of coffee during a round of cribbage, a game of volleyball with the kids and the opportunity to coach youngers to up their social or professional game or walk closer to Christ were things that Olin really loved. Olin loved Jesus Christ and probably spent more time contemplating what God needed him to be than most. Olin has departed this world and is free of his weakened, earthly body. He is now in heaven and as he entered, we are sure that he heard the words, “well done, my good and faithful servant.”

Tributes

Oscar Olin Hazen

January 6, 1935 - April 27, 2023