On Wednesday morning, three days before Christmas, 17-year-old Jake Underwood posted something to his Facebook account:
“Avs for a day was a realization for me, that my dad wouldn’t want me to sit around and grieve all day, but instead to realize that there is some beauty in the world and that there are actually good people in the world, and most importantly life goes on. We live and we die, and once we embrace that fact, then we can begin to live again.”
Jake’s father, Jeffrey, passed away from a heart attack a couple of months ago at 46, leaving Jake, 12-year-old brother Kirk and sister Heather, 19, without either original parent as the mother left the family years ago. Tuesday at the Pepsi Center, the three were guests of the Avalanche in its monthly “Av for a Day” program, which they all said was the perfect kind of tribute to their father.
“He was a huge Avs fan, a huge hockey fan,” said Heather Underwood. “His life was family, work and sports, but especially hockey. He’d come home, make dinner for us and then coach us in hockey three nights a week.”
While Heather is working and living on her own, her brothers are not without parental stability. A schoolteacher of Kirk’s at Summit Ridge Middle School, Melissa Daluz, and her husband, Brian, have been granted legal custody of the boys.
“Two months ago, I was his teacher. Today, I’m his mom. Life takes you in unexpected places,” said Daluz.
While the loss of their father can never be replaced, Jake, a senior at Dakota Ridge High School, said: “Everything has really fallen well into place, considering. We’re lucky in a lot of ways.”
On Tuesday, the three Underwoods received Avalanche jerseys of their choice, a visit to the team’s morning skate and a private suite for them and friends to take in the Avs’ game with Los Angeles.
“Our organization puts the responsibility on ourselves to be great leaders in our community and to provide uplifting experiences to those in need,” said Matt DeLuzio, manager of hockey programs at Kroenke Sports.
Heather got to meet her favorite player, Paul Stastny.
“He’s a really cool guy,” she said.
For young Kirk, meeting Matt Duchene provided the biggest thrill.
“To go from watching him on TV to being right there with him in person was amazing, a dream come true,” said Kirk, an honor roll student at Summit Ridge.
Christmas without their father for the first time was difficult, but the Daluzes and the Avs provided the kind of boost Heather said would put a huge smile on his face.
“He was an amazing man, just the greatest guy in the world,” she said.
Adrian Dater: 303-954-1360 or adater@denverpost.com
