Former City Manager Skip Noe, left, and interim City Manager Jason Batchelor, present an Aurora city flag to the family of Mayor Hogan during the Mayor’s memorial service, May 19 at the Heritage Christian Center. Hundreds attended the memorial service to pay their respects for the mayor and his family. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Becky Hogan, wife of Mayor Steve Hogan, smiles at those who came to pay their respects to Mayor Hogan during his memorial service, May 19 at the Heritage Christian Center. Hundreds were in attendance to pay their respects for the Aurora mayor at the memorial service, which was open to the public. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Fire Chief Fernando Gray hands an American flag to Police Chief Nick Metz to be given to Mayor Steve Hogan’s wife, Becky, during the memorial service for the Mayor, May 19 at the Heritage Christian Center. Hundreds attended the memorial service to pay their respects for the mayor and his family. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Mayor Steve Hogan’s son-in-law, Marcus Pachner, laughs as he apologizes for getting emotional blaming having stayed up to watch the Royal Wedding in the early hours of Saturday morning, during the memorial for Mayor Hogan, May 19 and the Heritage Christian Center. Pachner shared the stage with Mayor Hogan’s son, Tim, both remembering the life of the Mayor. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Police Chief Nick Metz stands by a City of Aurora flag, which was presented to the family of Mayor Steve Hogan during the memorial service for Mayor Steve Hogan, May 19 at the Heritage Christian Center. The family was presented with a city flag by former City manager Skip Noe, and two American flags, from Police Chief Metz and Fire Chief Fernando Gray. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Those in attendance for Mayor Steve Hogan’s memorial service were asked to join hands during prayer, as the service began, May 19 at the Heritage Christian Center. Hundreds were in attendance to pay their respects for the Aurora mayor at the memorial service, which was open to the public. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Mayor Hogan’s son Tim speaks to those in attendance at the Mayor’s memorial reflecting on memories with his dad, like getting up early in the morning to watch Haley’s Comet, and finding the darkest spot in Aurora, at what is now 6th Avenue and E-470. He remembered and told stories of vacations and travel with his family and father to the hundreds who were attendance. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Aurora resident, Mona Lisa McKnight sings along to “I can Only Imagine,” which was performed by Tyra Lallo, opening the memorial service for Mayor Steve Hogan, May 19 at the Heritage Christian Center. Hundreds were in attendance to pay their respects for the Aurora mayor at the memorial service, which was open to the public. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
From left, Farouk Mohammed, Sylvia Karanga and Dr. Pearl Addo-Teye, write notes of respect celebrating the life of Mayor Steve Hogan during his memorial service, May 19 at Heritage Christian Center. Hundreds were in attendance to pay their respects for the Aurora mayor at the memorial service, which was open to the public. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Police Chief Nick Metz passes by an American Flag and the flag for the City of Aurora, both of which were presented to Becky Hogan, and the rest of Mayor Hogan’s family during the Mayor’s memorial service, May 19 at the Heritage Christian Center. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel 
Gov. John Hickenlooper writes his name in the register for the memorial service for Mayor Steve Hogan, May 19 at the Heritage Christian Center. Gov. Hickenlooper was one of many dignitaries to attend the memorial service to pay respect to Mayor Hogan. Photo by Philip B. Poston/The Sentinel
AURORA | The consensus at Mayor Steve Hogan’s memorial Saturday was that even a week after his passing, Hogan probably hasn’t given up on public service.
Shortly after he “passed through the pearly gates,” radio host Rick Crandall joked during a eulogy for Hogan, the former state lawmaker, city councilman and persistent advocate for all things Aurora probably asked if there was an opening on the transportation committee.
Hogan’s son, Tim Hogan, remembered waiting up late for his dad to come home from city council meetings and said the drive that motivated his dad to spend long hours serving Aurora probably hadn’t diminished.
“I’m sure he is running for some office in heaven,” he told the hundreds gathered for the late mayor’s memorial at Heritage Christian Center.
Tim Hogan said that while his dad had an unwavering commitment to Aurora, he was every bit as dedicated to his family.
“He always tried to make time for us individually, to make us feel special,” he said.
He remembered his dad waking up at 3 a.m. and taking him and his sister to see Haley’s comet in what was back then among the darkest spaces in Aurora. Today, that chunk of land is probably somewhere near E-470 and East Sixth Avenue, he said, one of the many corners of town that has seen break-neck growth in large part thanks to Hogan’s vision and advocacy.
Hogan died May 12, just a few days after announcing he was beginning home hospice care for cancer.
Before he died, Hogan wrote a letter to the city thanking the community he had served in some capacity or another since 1979.
Hogan’s son in law, Marcus Pachner, said that in those last days Hogan also took time to make sure his family knew how much he loved them.
“And he actually made some minor policy suggestions,” he said with a laugh.
Wendy Mitchell, president of the Aurora economic Development Council, said Hogan’s work is on display across the city, from the E-470 toll road that facilitated Aurora’s rapid eastward growth, Stanley marketplace in northwest Aurora, two booming Amazon facilities and the Anschutz medical Campus.
Chief among those accomplishments is the Gaylord Rockies Resort and Convention Center in northeast Aurora, which is set to open later this year.
The hulking hotel has been almost a decade in the making and Hogan was among its fiercest advocates, first working to lure the world-renown hotel chain here, then battling the projects opponents in court before the project finally became reality.
“There was no doubt in his mind that we would come out on top,” she said.
In Hogan’s honor, the convention center will be dedicated to the late mayor, Mitchell announced Saturday.
Former Aurora Mayor Dennis Champine said Hogan was the template for a public servant and his passion for Aurora never waned.
“As much as anyone,” he said, “Steve is Aurora.”