OBITUARY: Jared Nathan Gutierrez, 32, Boulder High School Teacher

Jared Nathan Gutierrez, 32, Boulder High School Social Studies Teacher

Jared was a man awed by the depth and complexity of the world, a world that weighed so heavily on his heart that it finally broke his spirit.

Jared Nathan Gutierrez, 32, of Boulder, CO, died July 11, 2018 after a long and difficult battle with depression. In happier times, Jared thrived on sharing his wisdom and laughter with his students, who could feel his passion for teaching social studies and AP U.S. History at Boulder High School. He transformed his students’ lives in a profound way, and his compassion and vibrancy radiated like no other. He inspired through kindness and understanding and cared very deeply about each and every student. When arriving for class, Jared would have them look out the window at the majestic Flatirons he loved so much. He recognized the importance and beauty of the mountains and didn’t want it taken for granted.

Some of Jared’s favorite things were soccer, snowboarding, golf, music, and travel to Europe as a chaperone for his students. His passionate spirit and unique perspective of the world enriched the lives of many friends, and his devotion to sharing casual, fun family time was just as important. Simply going on mountain treks and flying kites with his mom, brother, sister and long-time girlfriend-turned-wife would bring joy. Jared also developed an amazingly strong bond with his late Siberian cat, Jinx.

Jared is survived by his mother, Grace Karnowka; his father, Jerry (Debi) Gutierrez; his step-brother, Brock (Melissa) Wilson; his sister, Kala Gutierrez; his brother, Andrew Karnowka; and Lauren Grady, widow of their 12-year-long relationship and marriage.

Information about a celebration of Jared’s life to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley or Wildlands Restoration Volunteers.

A message from Jared Gutierrez's family:

Our family is devastated with sorrow as we try to cope with our sudden loss. We feel that it is very important at this time, however, to send out this message to everyone who has been touched by Jared's spirit and passion, both past and present. Please know that he was loved dearly by a large network of family, friends, colleagues, and students.

Jared died by suicide after losing a long battle with depression.

“...the suicide rate in the US has been steadily increasing for years. The more the public understands about suicide prevention, the more likely we’ll see the rate of suicide begin to decrease. Creating a culture open to talking about mental health and suicide prevention is critical. Making treatment truly accessible for all people is paramount.”

-American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

We want to thank everyone for the massive outpouring of support. We also want everyone to know that we recognize you are sharing in our grief. Jared was truly a pillar in the Boulder community and all of us miss him very much. As we collectively try to come to terms with our feelings, please be proactive in caring for each other, and for yourself.

Image via Kala Gutierrez