Sean Hopkins

Sean Christopher HopkinsAge 43, died on June 28, 2013, of an unexpected heart attack. Sean was born December 6, 1969, in Springfield, MO, and attended schools in Indianapolis, Winston-Salem, and Amarillo. He graduated with a B.S. in psychology from Texas Christian University in 1992, where he was a member of Sigma Chi, and moved to Albuquerque in 1993 where he worked in the gemstone business, real estate, and for many years as a fund-raiser for nonprofit organizations. At the time of his death he was Resource Development Director for Saranam, a faith-based program helping homeless families become self-sufficient. He was an extraordinary cook and a successful tennis player, applying his skills to coaching as volunteer coach for several years at Cleveland Middle School and then as coach of the varsity boys' tennis team at Albuquerque Academy, guiding them to four state championships. He touched and helped change the lives of many young people and families in this work. Sean was active in the community through leadership with USTA, the Young Leaders Society, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. His heart of gold made him a true philanthropist in all he did in the community to promote the welfare of others. Sean was joyfully married to his "co-pilot," Naomi Elizabeth Montoya, a dancer and teacher at the Public Academy for Performing Arts (PAPA). He loved, and was loved by, many friends in the community. He is survived by Naomi, his parents Paul and LaDonna Hopkins, his sister and her husband, Sarah and Andy Tolch, his niece, Ameilia Tolch, and his beloved dog, Querq. Services will be held Tuesday, July 2, 2013, 4:00 p.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 5301 Ponderosa Ave NE Albuquerque, NM 87110. Memorial donations may be made in his honor to the Hopkins Family Fund at the Albuquerque Community Foundation, http://www.albuquerquefoundation.org/donate, or to Saranam, http://saranamabq.org , or PAPA, http://www.paparts.org . Sean was deeply loved, genuinely enjoyed, and will be greatly missed.