Obituary of Ida M. Halasz

Ida Marie Halasz died at home on December 18, 2019, in Broomfield, CO, at the age of 73 after battling ALS for three years.

Ida was born on February 1, 1946, in a refugee camp in Pocking, Germany, to Hungarian parents. The family immigrated to the U.S. in 1952. Education was important to Ida. She graduated from Youngstown State University in Ohio with a bachelor’s degree in art and education, followed by a master's degree from Edinboro State University, and a doctorate from Ohio State University in education and vocational psychology. In 1979 she was selected for a Fulbright scholarship which allowed her to study art in Belgium and the Netherlands. 

Ida married Mike Sullivan, the love of her life, in 1987. They moved to Colorado in 1989 when she was offered an executive position with the National Institute of Corrections in Boulder. During her stellar career, she founded Halvan Associates (a consulting company), led marketing and business development for start-up companies, did strategic planning for nonprofit organizations, and provided executive coaching to rising leaders in the federal government. 

She made many friends through her activities with Boulder Business and Professional Women (BPW) and as a trustee and vice president of the Colorado Women’s Education Foundation. In 2018 BPW honored Ida as its Woman of the Year along with a Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Ida was a natural connector and advocate for many people and causes. She was passionate about social justice and worked tirelessly on many political campaigns to help create positive changes.

Ida is survived by her husband Mike Sullivan; sisters Kathy Ratliff and Sue Howell and her niece Theresa Brugler and her grand nieces Kendal and Laia Brugler, stepson Eric Sullivan and stepdaughter Michelle Sullivan; grandchildren Breccha, Victoria, Rhett, Alex, and Sophia; and dear Hungarian friends Eva and Julia Kovacs.  

She was preceded in death by her parents Alexander Halasz and Ida (Galos) Halasz. 

Friends and family have established the Ida M. Halasz Memorial Scholarship at the Colorado Women’s Education Foundation, a sister organization of the Business and Professional Women of Colorado (BPW.) Donations are accepted https://cwef.org/sponsors/memorial-scholarships/ (scroll to the purple “Donate” button, specify “Ida Halasz, in memory, and endowment”). Donations can also be mailed to Colorado Women's Education Foundation, P.O. Box 1189, Boulder CO 80306-1189.

Celebration of Life 

Noon - 2:00 pm

Saturday, February 1

The Lodge Clubhouse at Skyestone 

11057 N. Montane Drive, Broomfield, CO  80021

Join us in celebrating Ida's extraordinary life by sharing memories, laughter, and love.  Please wear something colorful.  Light refreshments will be served.

Need Directions?   View Map