Obituaries

JOHN C. GALLIMORE Feb. 13, 2019

John C. Gallimore, Jr., age 93, World War II U.S. Merchant Marine veteran, 10 year veteran with the New Mexico State Police and our family’s patriarch passed away Wednesday, February 13, 2019.

John graduated from Howe High School in 1943; he received his bachelor’s from Austin College in 1949 and his master’s from the University of Rochester in 1953. John spent his career working for the Department of Energy as a Health Physicist, a career spanning 45 years. He worked at many different facilities including Oak Ridge, the Nevada Test Site, Los Alamos National Laboratory Read More

JACQUELINE PECKHAM Feb. 23, 1947 – Feb. 25, 2019

Jacqueline Peckham passed away on Feb. 25, 2019. She had just turned 72.

She is survived by her sister Joyce Zaugg and husband Tom, sister Lois Peckham, brother Allen Peckham and wife Karlena, by her nieces Irene Zaugg, Paige Peckham and wife Stacey, and Abby Schmitz and husband Mark, and by nephew Brian Zaugg.

She was preceded in death by her mother Phyllis and father Leonard Peckham.

Jackie was born in Mare Island Naval Base, California, February 23, 1947. Each one of her younger siblings was born in a different state – and one in Puerto Rico – as the Read More

ELIZABETH AKEN WRIGHT ANDERSON

Elizabeth Aken Wright Anderson, a long-time resident of Los Alamos, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019 at the age of 70. She passed peacefully in her sleep as she napped that afternoon. She will be missed by her family and friends.

She was preceeded in death by her parents, Muriel Zyphora and George William Wright of Chapel Hill, NC. She is survived by her husband Richard of Los Alamos, her two sons David of Brighton, CO and Jason of Austin, TX, her granddaughter Scarlett and her siblings, sister Marjorie Moe of Chapel Hill, NC, and brother Bruce Wright of Los Angeles, Read More

LESLEY (LES) G. WOOD Feb. 4, 1958 – Feb. 11, 2019

Les passed away on February 11, 2019, at home in Rio Rancho after a hard fought, courageous battle with a long-term illness. The Lord relieved Les of his pain and took him to a better place.

Les graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1976. He was a happy, outgoing, well-loved and thoughtful person. He brought many smiles to many people and was fun to be with. 

Les was very passionate about animal welfare and loved his five kitties. He loved the outdoors and spent his free time fishing and camping. Les had started his own business, which was very successful. Read More

APRIL ESTELLE WYRICK April 27, 1981 – Feb. 7, 2019

April Estelle Ray Terrell Wyrick was born on April 27, 1981 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was born alongside her twin sister, Christa, the love of her life.

She spent most of her childhood in Los Alamos, New Mexico, running cross country, swimming, playing ice hockey and snowboarding.

April experienced significant challenges in her early life, but she channeled her grief and pain into a life of serving others. For someone just in her thirties her accomplishments were vast, and included working at an orphanage in Guatemala, in a homeless shelter in Read More

LARRY BACA July 24, 1956 – Feb. 7, 2019

Larry Baca was born the youngest of six boys on July 24, 1956 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Blas Benedicto and Reyna Anna Baca (nee Salazar). 

Growing up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, he graduated from Los Alamos High School, class of 1974, as a Hilltopper star athlete in football, baseball, track, wrestling, and basketball and remained a multisport advocate for the rest of his life. 

He attended Eastern New Mexico University (ENMU) in Portales, New Mexico, where he met the love of his life and best friend, Debra Marie Baca (nee Oldfield) on an oceanography Read More

LARRY BRENT “TINY” GIBBONS April 28, 1951 – Feb. 8, 2019

Larry Brent “Tiny” Gibbons, 67, a resident of White Rock, born on April 28, 1951, passed away on Friday, February 8, 2019. 

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and La Rue Gibbons.

Larry was a resident of Los Alamos county since 1963. He was employed with the Los Alamos National Laboratory for many years. He was also involved in the Los Alamos Little Theater and did wedding photography on the side.

Larry was a 1970 graduate of Los Alamos High School and then went on to attend college at Dixie college in St. George, Utah and Read More

ANNET ACOMB June 16, 1957 – Jan. 30, 2019

After a courageous battle with breast cancer, Annet Acomb, a resident of White Rock, NM went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the age of 61.

She was born on June 16, 1957 in Enid, OK to Johnny and Emma Quinton.

She grew up in Enid and Okmulgee, OK and graduated Okmulgee High School in 1975.

After being widowed in 1990 she met and married Tim Acomb of Los Alamos, NM. Not only did she and Tim get married once, they got married twice, to make sure it stuck. The first time on November 13, 1992 at the top of Sandia Peak Tramway with local skiers as Read More

EDWARD ‘ED’ A. BALDWIN June 1, 1968 – Feb. 2, 2019

Edward “Ed” A. Baldwin, 50, of De Pere, WI, passed away unexpectedly due to natural causes.

He was born June 1, 1968 in Los Alamos, NM to the late Tom and Phyllis (Holder) Baldwin. Ed graduated from Los Alamos High School and then continued his education at Eastern New Mexico University where he received his bachelor’s degree.

In 1992 Ed married the former Molly Kulppi in Portales, NM and together they have raised two wonderful daughters.

Ed was a witty, fun-loving father, husband, and friend. He had a heart of gold and could always make people Read More

DONALD J. SANDROM July 26, 1937 – Jan. 24, 2019

Donald J. Sandstrom, 81, passed away peacefully on Thursday, January 24, 2019, at Christus St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe.

He was born on July 26, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, to Nils Simon and Dagmar (Fuglsang) Sandstrom. Donald was a 1954 graduate of Hirsch High School and a 1958 graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in metallurgical engineering.

Donald’s professional career began with ACF Industries in Albuquerque, NM. In January 1961 he accepted a position at Los Alamos National Laboratory where he worked until retirement in Read More

DIANA TAYLOR May 5, 1951 – Jan. 30, 2019

After a courageous battle with bladder cancer, Diana Taylor, a resident of White Rock, NM passed away peacefully in her home on Wednesday, January 30, 2019 at the age of 67.

She was born on May 5, 1951 in Las Vegas, NM and was the eldest of five children born to Donald and Sylvia Ortega.

She grew up in Las Vegas and graduated from Robertson High School. She attended college at Highlands University earning a Bachelors degree in education. She married Steve Taylor on December 21, 1983.

After a short time living in Denver, CO, Diana and Steve moved to Los Alamos to be Read More

BLAIR SWARTZ Jan. 10, 2019

Blair Swartz passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 10, 2019.

He is survived by Laura, his wife of 64 years, and his daughter Stacey.

Blair was born in Detroit, Michigan. He received a B.S. in Physics from Antioch College and an M.S. in Mathematics from MIT before coming to Los Alamos in 1958 as a Research Associate in the T-1 Computing Group. Early in his career at LANL he was recognized as an outstanding mathematician and accepted the Lab’s offer to continue his education. He attended NYU, where he received his PhD. in Applied Mathematics.

His professional Read More

BRIAN J. KENNEDY Oct. 7, 2018

On October 7, 2018, Brian J. Kennedy passed away peacefully at his home after a 3-year long battle with cancer.

Brian was born and raised in Los Alamos, NM where he graduated from Los Alamos High School. He majored in Math, Physics and Computer Science in college and he was a proud veteran who served his country in the Navy.

For much of his work history, Brian worked in computer software development, web security services and systems management. His interests included hiking, sailing, woodworking, and playing guitar.

He will be missed by his loving wife Lorraine of 44 Read More

FRANZ AUGUST BIEHL July 19, 1934 – Jan. 17, 2019

Franz August Biehl was born in Davenport, Iowa, to August and Pauline Biehl, joining his sister Lila.

His father was from Alveslohe, Germany, and his mother was from the Amana Colonies, Iowa so Franz spoke German exclusively until starting school. His father and his friends would sing songs in German and the Plattdeutsch dialect at the local Turner Hall and social gatherings. His mother and her sisters also sang and played the zither. They listened to a wide variety of music on the radio at home and his mother often sang songs from the forties to him. Read More

DIANE DAVIS Dec. 4, 1979 – Jan. 9, 2019

Diane Davis (Princess Di) passed away on January 9, 2019 surrounded by family and friends after a brief battle with Pancreatic Cancer.

Diane was born in Zuni, New Mexico on December 4, 1979 and reborn on Oct 13, 1995 when she came to live with John, Doris, Susie and Jessica Roberts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Diane attended and graduated from the New Mexico School for the Deaf in 2002. Diane was joined at the hip to her sister, Sharon Jim, who came into her life 3 years after joining the Roberts family.

Diane was gifted with the ability to make people smile and laugh. Being Read More

VIRGINIA LOUISE RUNDBERG Jan. 20, 1956 – Jan. 13, 2019

After a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer, Ginger Rundberg (Virginia Louise, formerly Newby), resident of Santa Fe, New Mexico, passed peacefully in her home late in the afternoon on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at the age of 62.  

She was born on January 20, 1956, in Idaho Falls, Idaho, and was the youngest of five children born to Marvon Newby Sr. and Clara (Knutson) Newby. 

She grew up in Ririe, Idaho on a farm along the Snake River, and attended college at Idaho State University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry Read More

MARY ANN ROSENTHAL Sept. 15, 1935 – Jan. 12, 2019

Mary Ann Rosenthal, age 83, passed into Heaven on Saturday, January 12, 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mary Ann was born in Highland, Illinois on September 15, 1935, to Victor H. and Muriel Daiber. She grew up on a farm near Marine, Illinois, and married Jerome Jesse Rosenthal on June 23, 1956 after he graduated from the University of Illinois. They moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico in 1956 after Jesse accepted a position at Los Alamos National Laboratory. They left Los Alamos briefly to pursue other job opportunities but returned in 1964.

Together Read More

BARBARA FITZGERALD 1935–2019 

Born Barbara Kyrcz in Waterbury, Connecticut, she resided the majority of her life in Los Alamos, New Mexico after relocating from the East Coast with her young family in the late 1970’s.

She enjoyed the folk crafts of New Mexico, hiking in Bandelier, swimming at the local pools, traveling to Santa Fe for art and music and cross-country skiing in the Jemez Mountains. She was an avid traveler and spent extended durations living and studying in Ireland and Mexico.

She appreciated the friendship of many individuals she interacted with throughout Los Read More

MICHAEL GROWCOTT HENDERSON Jan. 19, 1937 – Nov. 14, 2018

Michael Growcott Henderson of Los Alamos, NM, passed away Nov. 14, 2018, just shy of his 82nd birthday.

He was born Jan. 19, 1937, in Blackpool, UK. He is survived by his cousin and other family members in Blackpool.

Mike was a retired Group Leader and Division Leader at the Los Alamos National laboratory.

An informal gathering of friends will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the VFW, 1793 Deacon St. in Los Alamos, NM.

Potluck dishes welcome. Read More

ALEAH STAHL MEASON July 19, 1981 – Jan. 1, 2019

Aleah Stahl Meason, 37, died on January 1, 2019. Aleah was born on July 19, 1981 in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where she grew up and attended Calvary Chapel Elementary School, Los Alamos Middle School and graduated from Los Alamos High School. She was an employee of Los Alamos county for several years, serving in multiple capacities.

There was much more to Aleah, than the last few years of her life. She was a faithful Christian, finding relief from her pain in The Word of God and in His sweet presence. A fiercely protective little sister to her big brother, Teddy, Read More

RICHARD ANDREW PROVAN Oct. 30, 2018

Richard Andrew Provan (Randy), passed away in his sleep early Tuesday morning, October 30th 2018. He will be eternally missed.

Randy had many passions including reading, hiking, back packing, camping, skiing, and traveling. He took an interest in all of nature, particularly the geology of the southwest. He was a natural teacher and loved introducing his daughters to maps and orienteering as children.

Of Randy’s passions, his family was the most important. Especially, his two wonderful and adoring daughters, Lindsay and Sydney, and his wife and best friend Read More

DAVID WILLIAMS Sept. 21, 1936 – Dec. 16, 2018

On Sunday, December 16, 2018, David (Dave) Williams peacefully passed away at home at the age of 82.

Dave was born on September 21, 1936 in Okmulgee, OK and was raised in Hobbs, NM. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of New Mexico in 1958 and his M.D. from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis in 1962. Following internship at UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, he served 2 years in the US Public Health Service on the Navajo nation in Gallup, NM and on the Rocky Boy Indian reservation in northern Montana.

After 4 years of diagnostic Read More