Enrico Passerella Jr, (Rick) passed away March 2, 2025, peacefully with his wife Nancy by his side. Rick was born on November 10, 1939, in Denver, CO to Enrico Passerella and Angelina Granato Passerella. Rick was a graduate of North High School in Denver, CO. On Feb 2, 1962, he enlisted in the US Army Reserves until his honorable discharge on February 19, 1968.

On November 19, 1965, Rick and Nancy Jeanne Hasselquist were married in Denver, CO. They made their home in North Denver until they moved to Arvada, CO. in 1970.
They welcomed into their family, a daughter, Marsha Lynn, in 1967 and a son Brian Rick, in 1973.

Rick began his work career when he was 14, as a sacker at Miller’s supermarket and worked his way up to produce manager. Eventually, he moved on to Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph and worked there until his retirement in 1999. He became an Engineer and made management during his time with the company.

Rick loved to work in the yard and spent many hours tending to what needed to be done. He was an avid gardener and grew many fine vegetables and rose bushes.
He enjoyed creating and doing things. He built a garden pond with a waterfall that was filled with Japanese Koi and goldfish. He also built a redwood deck so everyone could enjoy the pond. There really wasn’t anything he could not create and do with his hands and mind.

Fishing was his favorite pastime. He took his family camping over the years to Red Feather’s Lakes near Ft. Collins, CO. He was an outstanding fisherman and spent time showing Nancy the fine art of trout fishing. He also showed his son, Brian, the same fine art of fishing and in doing so, passed on his outstanding fishing abilities to him.

As the years passed, he spent time in Iowa visiting his father and mother-in-law on the farm. He enjoyed helping his father-in-law, Alan, with farming chores. When Alan passed away suddenly in 1971, he helped his mother-in-law, Lola, whenever the family visited her.

Rick, Nancy and their children and sometimes friends started traveling the world on cruise ships. At first, they visited the Caribbean and eventually moved on to traveling to Hawaii, Europe, Egypt, the Panama Canal and Russia. Their love of cruising and traveling on a cruise ship grew over the years.

After retirement, Rick and Nancy kept traveling until the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s changed his life and his family’s forever, when they were no longer able to travel.
Nancy took care of him so that he could continue to stay at home. A few days before his passing, he was moved to Mountain Vista Retirement home for respite care, under Hospice. He passed away on March 2, 2025, at 6:25 am at the age of 85 years.
He is sadly missed by his wife, Nancy, daughter, Marsha (Dave) Rehfeld, son Brian (Nicki) Passerella, grandchildren, Nathan Rehfeld, Caitlin Rehfeld, step grandchildren, Eddie Ellis and Jaime Ellis, sister Carol Highland, nieces Stacy Highland and Carissa Hollander.