Mauro and Mateo Diaz: Sept. 24, 2022
Mauro E. Diaz, age 52, and Mateo Diaz, age 8, both of Casper, died on September 24, 2022, in a car accident near Thermopolis, Wyoming.
Mauro, born April 21, 1970, in northern Mexico to Mauro and Guadalupe Diaz, had a life defined and influenced by the outdoors. He grew up as a Boy Scout, cyclist, Little Leaguer, and overall athlete.
After his youth in Silver City, New Mexico, he received a BA in English at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. Mauro moved to Wyoming in 1995 to work with a childhood friend in Laramie. He found many friends through his adventures and truly fell in love with the state, ultimately receiving a BS in Biology from UW and finding his calling to make a difference in Wyoming as a teacher.
Mauro and Angela Haiar, married 19 years, moved from Laramie to New York City in 2002, where Mauro served as a NYC Teaching Fellow and began his teaching experience in the Bronx while earning an MS in Secondary Science Education.
Mauro, Angela, and their firstborn son, Jack, made their way back to Wyoming in 2005, where Mauro began teaching at Dean Morgan Middle School and Natrona County High School in Casper from 2005 to his death. He was always committed to his students and felt a deep obligation to make them better individuals. Mauro was instrumental in bringing FIRST LEGO robotics to Wyoming, served as a National Board Certified Teacher, US Department of Education Teaching Ambassador Fellow, founder of the Wyoming Education Summit, and board member of several national education foundations.
Mauro’s relationship with the wilderness, the outdoors, and his pledge of being true to himself and his words were the biggest drivers in his life. He was committed to passing these principles on to his three sons: Jack, Diego, and Mateo. He was beyond proud of them, their accomplishments, and their backpacking journeys together in Wyoming’s mountains.
Mauro had a special, carefree relationship with his youngest son, Mateo, born June 13, 2014, in Casper, Wyoming, and third grader at Park Elementary School.
Mateo’s joy for life and his family was infectious. He knew how good life was with two teenage brothers and wanted nothing more than to “do everything Jack and Diego do.” Mateo cherished his time with his family and valued the relationships he had with his cousins and friends.
Mateo grew up at the ice rinks, soccer fields, and cross-country courses throughout Wyoming and was never without a smile on his face. He had an appetite for building things: LEGOs, inventions, and art. His current passions were to complete the Harry Potter book series, become a Level 5 swimmer, and be a soccer and hockey champion.
Mateo and Mauro are greatly missed. They are survived by mother/wife Angela Haiar; brothers/sons Jack (18) and Diego (16) Diaz of Casper; uncle/brother-in-law Keith (Sherry) Haiar and children Lauren, Owen, and Hayes of Beulah, WY; aunt/sister-in-law Sonya (Ben) Gruner and children Andrew, Nathan, and Ellison of Casper, WY; and grandparents/ in-laws Lee and Betty Haiar of Beulah, WY.
They are also survived by Mauro’s caring mother, Guadalupe Diaz, 82, of Silver City, NM; sisters Julietta (Luis) Nolasco of Phoenix, AZ, Lydia Diaz of Silver City, NM, and Amalia Castellanos of Tucson, AZ; nephew Alejandro (Rosanna) Nolasco and son Noah of Las Cruces, NM; niece Daniella (Jacob) Aguilar and children Avery, Isla, and Mila of Phoenix, AZ; niece Adriana (Jacob) Silva and children Audrina and Andres of Las Cruces, NM; nephew Gregory Castellanos and niece Elizabeth Honey Castellanos of Tucson, AZ; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins who have been an important part of his youth and adulthood contributing to who he was as a person.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Mauro and Mateo Diaz Memorial Fund at Jonah Bank of Casper.
Services are scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 4 p.m., at Highland Park Community Church.
Arrangements are under the direction of Newcomer Casper Chapel.
