David Leo Hopkins died December 17, 2021, from complications related to vascular dementia at Liberty Heights Memory Care in Colorado Springs, CO. He was 81.
He was born April 13, 1940, in Endicott, NY, to Philip and Anna Hopkins. He was the second of nine children. He was a graduate of the University of Dayton and spent seven years in the Army Reserves.
Hopkins worked as a journalist for newspapers in Ohio, Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Miami. He spent more than 30 years in the News and Sports Departments of the Las Vegas Sun, retiring in 2005.
Hopkins and fellow Sun staffer Carmel Nadeau were married February 14, 1978, at the Little Chapel of the West on Las Vegas Strip in a ceremony attended by dozens of Las Vegas Sun staffers.
During their retirement years, the couple took several road trips across the country and were privileged to see games in every Major League Baseball park. They also visited each of the United States.
Hopkins is survived by his wife; brothers, John Hopkins and Mark Hopkins; sisters, Maryanne Burns, Helen Pontius and Kathleen Webb, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He also is survived by stepchildren: Alfonso Riviezzo and his wife, Marcyl; Carmel Gray and her husband, Dallas; Anthony Riviezzo and his wife, Danielle; grandchildren: Nicole Riviezzo, Andrea Riviezzo and Mathieu Polo Lozano, Nikel Riviezzo, Carmel and Chris Joyner, Claire and Kevin Brandewie, Chandler Riviezzo, Isabella Riviezzo, Angelica Riviezzo, Nicholas and Estella Kutschara, Phillip and Jana Kutschara; great-grandchildren: Brynn Jo Kutschara, Nathan Kutschara, Theo Polo Riviezzo, Zoe Polo Riviezzo, Luke Joyner, Lily Joyner, Jake Brandewie and Wyatt Kutschara.
Military services will be in the Pikes Peak National Cemetery in Colorado Springs at a date to be named later.
Sharon Storm
27 Dec 2021I worked with David in the sports department at the Las Vegas Sun. He was responsible for editing all the stories and getting them laid out on time for the next day’s newspaper. He had a wealth of knowledge and was great to learn from. RIP, David.