Louis Hartwell Helekunihi Freitas Sr.

Louis Hartwell Helekunihi Freitas, "Harty" of Las Cruces, was born January 24, 1934, in Honolulu to Eldred and Mary DeFreitas. He passed away peacefully on October 9, 2022, at 88 years old surrounded by his family and his brother David Freitas (wife Darlene). Harty paddled for the Waikiki Surf Club in the Senior Six Men canoe races from 1952 - 1953,

victories including the championship events of Julian R. Yates, Koolaupoko Lions Club, 6-mile Kamehameha Day Regatta and the Molokai to Oahu race. Harty is a 1952 St. Louis High School graduate, where he played football as a fullback. He enrolled at University of Hawaii in the ROTC program and played for the Rainbow Warriors football team as a fullback and linebacker. In 1954 Hawaii had been annihilated by the Nebraska Cornhuskers, 50-0, at the Honolulu Stadium. Hawaii was still a territory and not included in any national collegiate athletic conferences or divisions. The starting team of the 1955 Warriors were all boys from Hawaii. A year later, Coach Vasconellos led a gallant little band of only 27 UH Rainbows to Lincoln, Nebraska, and the lightly regarded Bows, 40-point underdogs, shocked the football world with a 6-0 victory before

23,000 unbelieving fans. Even though Hartwell Freitas scored the only points for the upset win, this was a complete TEAM win in 1955 which many consider as one of the greatest wins in collegiate football. In March 2007, the Hawaii 1955 Football team was inducted into the University of Hawaii Circle of Honor. What an amazing tribute to this team. After graduating and being commissioned as 2 nd lieutenant in the US Army, he married the love of his life, Priscilla Hirayama on January 26, 1956. Harty and Pat were married for over 45 years before Pat passed away in January 2002. He and Pat traveled the world to places as Ft. Bliss Texas, Honolulu Hawaii, Frankfurt Germany, Ft. Bragg North Carolina, Ft. Huachuca Arizona, Johnson City Tennessee, and even back to Honolulu Hawaii. Harty retired from the US Army in 1978 at White Sands Missile Range, Las Cruces New Mexico. Harty served his country as a Field Artillery and as a Tactical Intelligence Officer in the foreign services in Germany, Korea and Vietnam. After retiring, Harty loved taking care of Pat when she worked at WSMR. He even found time to cook at the mess halls and received his Culinary Certificate. He completed his MBA from NMSU and of course the constant tee times at WSMR, NMSU and even Picacho Hills golf courses. He loved his golf, and that awesome Wilson 8802 blade putter. Never a dull moment playing golf with his buddies, and his family. With the kids grown up and out of the house, Harty and Pat found time to travel home to Hawaii, trips to Las Vegas and occasional trips to visit their children in Dallas, Phoenix, Michigan, New York, and Denver.

He was preceded in death by his wife Priscilla Shigeko Freitas (Hirayama), son Cyrus Keone Freitas, brothers Valentine and Bernard.

Harty is survived by his son Louis (wife Kathryn) and grand-daughter Malia (husband Cole Foley), great-grandchildren Cosette, Nicholas, Leo John and Miriam, granddaughter Josephine (fianc Brian King), granddaughter Leilani, grandson Hartwell, grandson Brooks and grandson Yarnell. Son Kevin (wife Christina) and grandson Anthony, granddaughter Adriana (husband Joshua), great- granddaughter Kaia Lily, grandson Kevin (fiance Ashley). Son David (wife Roseanna) and granddaughter Mahina (husband Manny), great-granddaughter Harlee Mahealani, grandson David and grandson Michael.

Daughter Nani (husband David Bailey) and grandson Nicholas and granddaughter Samantha. Son Gary (wife Julie) and granddaughter Meagan, great-grandson Theo, granddaughter Melissa, granddaughter Jordyn, grandson Gabriel, granddaughter Caitlin.

Special thanks to Memorial General Hospital and The Village of Northrise - Desert Willow.

Celebration of Life funeral is at our home parish Holy Cross Catholic Church in Las Cruces, New

Mexico at 9:30am on November 2nd. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to our family home at

450 W. Palmer Road, Las Cruces, NM 88005, and we will ensure that the donations go to the Las

Cruces St. Vincent DePaul organization.