Aug. 2, 1934-June 21, 2023
Alvin (Sonny) Darien of St. George, Utah, passed away peacefully on June 21, 2023, surrounded by family. He was born in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, to Ben and Margaret Darien and grew up in the town of Basalt, Colorado. He graduated from Basalt High School in 1952 and attended Northern Colorado Teacher’s College (now the University of Northern Colorado).
Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and was first stationed at Pensacola, Florida, and later transferred to Quantico, Virginia. Between those two assignments, he returned to the valley and he and his high school sweetheart Bernadine Bostelman were married on Dec. 29, 1956. He spent the remainder of his three years in the Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton, California. Upon his discharge, he, his wife and first daughter Debbie returned to Colorado and he took a teaching job in Carbondale (a position he held for 30 years). In 1961 they had their son Jay and in 1964 their second daughter Darlene.
Sports had always been a big part of his life, so in addition to teaching, he welcomed the opportunity to become a coach. He coached many sports — track, football, basketball, summer baseball and tennis, but his first love was coaching basketball. In 1985 he received a Coaching Achievement award from the Colorado High School Coaches Association in recognition of 300 basketball victories. He introduced athletics to a lot of young students, and he felt the discipline required to be an athlete prepared them in so many ways in later life.
After his retirement from teaching, he went to work at the front desk of Maroon Creek Tennis Club, a position he held for 10 years. During that time, tennis became a big part of his and Bernie’s life and he pursued a certification as a certified instructor by the USAPA. In 1999 he was hired as a tennis pro at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale, Colorado, and a part-time pro at Aspen Glen, also in Carbondale.
After he retired from both positions, he and his wife began traveling in an RV. As they traveled, they always looked for places to play tennis and in 2005 they sold their home in Carbondale and moved to St. George, Utah. Sonny and Bernie continued to play a lot of tennis and later became pickleball players. Unfortunately, as time went on Sonny was unable to participate in sports and ultimately suffered the loss of most of his eyesight due to macular degeneration. He always maintained a good attitude about life and continued his interest in sports through Google.
In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a sister Shirley Maye. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Bernadine (Bernie); daughter Debbie Baird (Ken), son Jay Darien (Debbie Penland), daughter Darlene Dion; five beloved grandchildren Christopher Baird, Kyle Baird, Kaylee Dion Brown (Zack), Caden Dion and Drew Darien; great-grandson Casey Ray Brown, as well as four step-grandchildren Trenton, Brynn, Molly and Grace Cahune and two brothers Bob Darien and Jerry Darien.
A Celebration of Life will be held in Carbondale, Colorado, on July 22, 2023, at the Barn at River Valley Ranch at 2 p.m. The family would request that friends come and share some memories of Sonny.
Family and friends are invited to share tributes online. Arrangements and memorial tree planting by Serenity Funeral Home of Southern Utah, 435-986-9100.