Obituaries

DAVID NIGEL MULLEN Feb. 19, 1963 – Oct. 10, 2017

David Nigel Mullen had many passions that he pursued throughout his life, including his family and friends, the Fighting Texas Aggie Corps of Cadets, history, hunting and shooting, and photography. 

David died unexpectedly on October 10, 2017 from a medical condition at his home at the age of 54. David is survived by his wife, Evelyn Mullen, his children, Tyler and Hannah, his mother Helen Elaine Worley, his adoptive father James Mullen, and his sisters Sian Mullen, Juliet Philpott, and Tammy Mullen. 

David was born in Nuneaton, England Read More

HAROLD FISHBINE Oct. 5, 1919 – Oct. 6, 2017

Harold Fishbine was born to Beatrice and Max Fishbine on October 5, 1919, in New York City. He passed away in Los Alamos on October 6, 2017.

He was a resident of Los Alamos since 1944. He loved New Mexico, particularly Los Alamos, and all the people he knew here. He was employed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory until his retirement in 1982.

His big interests were his family and music of all kinds, and he played bass in jazz bands and symphonies.

He is survived by Bonnie, his wife of 71 years; two sons, Brian and Glenn; granddaughter, Jenna Fishbine; and many Read More

RUTH J. SHERMAN Jan. 1, 1933  – Oct. 8, 2017

Ruth J. Sherman, a 57-year resident of Los Alamos, died peacefully at her home on October 8, 2017. Daughter of Morris and Bernice Joffe, Ruth was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 1, 1933. After Bernice passed away when Ruth was just seven years old, her father married Beatrice, whom Ruth came to know and love as her second mother.

Ruth was fiercely independent, highly intelligent, and passionate about learning. Although she aspired to be a doctor, she earned her degree in nutrition from Northwestern University. She became the Head Dietitian Read More

CHARLES R. “CHUCK” MANSFIELD July 27, 1938 – Oct. 6, 2017

Charles R. “Chuck” Mansfield was a devoted family man who loved his wife Arlene and his son Dave. Chuck is the son of H. Robert Mansfield and Dorothy Louise (Rice) Mansfield and was born July 27, 1938   in Lewiston, Idaho. He left and joined his maker Oct. 6, 2017.

Chuck was always interested in aviation. In High School he formed an Air Explorer Squadron under the Boy Scouts of America. From 1958 to 1969, he worked as a Siskiyou Smoke Jumper in the summer while attending college. He fought fires for the US Forest Service throughout the Read More

BRANDYN ORTEGA Jan. 14, 1996 – Oct. 2, 2017

Brandyn Ortega, 21, of Los Alamos, NM, died unexpectedly on Monday, October 2, 2017. He will be deeply missed by his parents, Heather and Andrew Ortega; siblings, Taylor Rose, Savannah, Isaac, and Joshua; grandparents; great-grandparents; and extended family and friends near and far.

Brandyn was born in Los Alamos on January 14, 1996, the light of his mother’s life. The consummate jokester, Brandyn loved to make those around him laugh and have fun. He was caring and giving and always good for a hug or a hand. He doted on his mother in big and small ways as Read More

LAURA MARGARET HILL Aug. 19, 1947 – Aug. 27, 2017

Laura Margaret Hill, age 70, passed away peacefully on August 27th, 2017. Laura is survived by her life partner John Brannon, her sister Jamia Hill, her two nephews Don and Andrew and her numerous kitties, which she loved and adored.

Her parents were Boyce and Margaret Hill, and she was born in Los Angeles California on August 10, 1947. Laura preferred her name to be pronounced “Lara” and she shared her kind and beautiful gifts with the various communities in which she lived.

Before Lara graduated from University High School in West Los Angeles in 1965, Read More

VIVIAN E. PEARSON April 10, 1948 – Sept. 20, 2017

Vivian E. Pearson, affectionately known to her family as “Grammy,” was born April 10, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. She passed away September 20, 2017 at her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Vivian graduated from Glenbard East High School in 1966. After graduation she worked various jobs ranging from hotel clerk, nursery care attendant, and in retail.

The wild beauty of New Mexico reverberated deeply in her own wild spirit when she first moved there in 1971. After a brief return to Illinois, she returned to the Land of Enchantment in 1973 and chose to Read More

CONNIE L. REZAC (HAYDEN) Jan. 26, 1942 – Sept. 19, 2017

Connie L. Rezac (formerly Connie L. Hayden) passed away peacefully on September 19, 2017 in the loving care of Casa de La Luz Hospice in Tucson, AZ.

Connie is survived by her husband John Rezac of Tucson, AZ.; Sister Ruthie Banta (Ken) of Thornton, CO., Son David Hayden (Jennifer) and Daughter Donna Hayden of Los Alamos, NM; Grandchildren Austin Hayden (Dominique), Logan Hayden (Lis), and Haylee Hayden; and Great Granddaughter Piper Hayden.

Connie is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Jim Hayden, her grandson Isaac Hayden, Read More

RUTH LOMAN Nov. 7, 1930 – Sept. 27, 2017

Ruth Lomon, a frequent summer visitor to Los Alamos and Santa Fe, died at her Cambridge, Massachusetts, home after a long illness on Tuesday. She was 87 and a well-known classical music composer. She is survived by her husband, Earle Lomon, a physicist at MIT, and children and grandchildren.

Her compositions include orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo works as well as multimedia works. She was awarded numerous commissions and grants over the years, including one from the New Mexico Arts Division.

She was the Composer/Resident Scholar at the Women’s Studies Read More

NANCY C. BEARSS April 27, 1944 – Sept. 22, 2017

Nancy C. Bearss, 73, a resident of Los Alamos for 51 years, passed away September 22, 2017, from a year-long courageous battle with lymphoma cancer.

Nancy was born April 27, 1944 in Boone Grove, Indiana, and graduated from Ball State University in 1966. She taught physical education for 29 years at Pueblo Junior High and the Los Alamos Middle School. In the 1970’s, Nancy worked bravely and diligently to institute Title IX for the benefit of many young women in Los Alamos.

Nancy maintained a wonderful attitude throughout her illness and continued to Read More

WENDY JO MCGUIRE Oct. 4, 1948 – Feb. 8, 2017

Wendy passed away in her apartment at the Albuquerque Grand Sr. Living on February 8th, 2017. She hadn’t lived there long and always felt it would be temporary, but in that time she had made friends and become essential to the running of the place. The memorial the manager and others created for her was lovely and memorable. But now that it’s fall, with Wendy’s birthday approaching, it’s time for a celebration of her life at the farm, which she had loved since 2000.

Wendy spent her school years in the Los Alamos school system (attending Read More

RICHARD P. BEST Sept. 7, 1924 – Aug. 26, 2017

At the age of 92, Richard P. Best passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 26, 2017, in Scottsdale, Arizona, surrounded by his loving children.

Richard was born in Paris, Illinois, on Sunday, September 7, 1924, the only child of Paul and Dorothy Mae Best. He graduated from Paris High School 1942 and headed to college at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he became a proud and significantly involved lifelong member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity.

During his first semester of his freshman year at DePauw, he enlisted in the Army and Read More

HARRIET A. DODDER Nov. 24, 1929 – Aug. 27, 2017

Harriet A. Dodder, 87, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away on August 27, 2017 at the Los Alamos Medical Center following a sudden illness, with her nephew, nieces and lifelong friends by her side.

Harriet was born in Pine City, MN November 24, 1929 to Hans and Salma Grandt. She attended country school and graduated from Pine City High School in 1947. She went to the University of Minnesota to obtain a teaching degree. She also met her future husband, Donald Dodder, who was getting a graduate degree in nuclear physics. They married in 1951 and moved to Los Read More

THOMAS WILSON HORNSBY III Feb. 3, 1983 – Sept. 5, 2017

Thomas Wilson Hornsby III, 34 of Parker, Colorado went to be with the Lord on September 5, 2017. Thomas was born in Los Alamos, NM on February 3, 1983. He attended Barranca Mesa Elementary school, Los Alamos Middle School, and Los Alamos High School. He received his Bachelors Degree in E-Business from Westwood College of Technology Denver in 2004. He was an IT Security Manager at Dish Network.

Thomas was the loving Husband of 7 years to Jamey, Proud Father of son Thomas Wilson Hornsby IV and daughter Jepsyn of Parker, Colorado and Stepfather to Read More

GLEN A. GRAVES Nov. 11, 1927 – Sept. 12, 2017

Glen A. Graves of 80 Barranca Road, a 67-year resident of Los Alamos, died Tuesday evening of complications from a stroke. He is survived by his sons Frank (in Boston), John (in Newport Beach, CA) and Thomas (now in Los Alamos), as well as one sister, Maxine Mann (in Bloomington IN), still surviving from his four siblings. His wife Sue passed away in March of 2016, and is now resting at Guaje Pines, where Glen will also be interred.

Glen was born on November 11, 1927, in Stanford Indiana, a small town near Bloomington Indiana. He grew up on a farm that faced significant Read More

RICHARD (DICK) WARNES Aug. 16, 2017

Richard (Dick) Warnes, 84, died Wednesday, August 16, 2017 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Dick was born in Chicago and lived in Indiana, California and then New Mexico where he and his wife lived for 47 years in Los Alamos before moving to Albuquerque. He died in the compassionate care of Mi Casa at La Vida Llena and Hospice of New Mexico.

Dick is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children, Bill Warnes, and wife, Roberta, Linda Penaloza and husband, Robert; and his grandchildren, Alexander and Ian. He was preceded in death by his infant daughter, Read More

ELLIOTT HARRISON CLAY Nov. 10, 1995 – Sept. 1, 2017

Elliott Harrison Clay, of San Jose, California, passed away on Friday morning, September 1, 2017. He was 21 years old.

Elliott was born in Los Alamos, New Mexico on November 10, 1995, and he would always consider Los Alamos his home. Elliott was very active in his younger years, and greatly enjoyed scouting, baseball, football, and basketball. He also had a natural affinity for music, mathematics and science, which were talents he pursed throughout his life.

In the summer of 2001, when Elliott was five, his family moved from Los Alamos for a year Read More

CAROLYN T. ORTEGA Aug. 28, 2017

Carolyn T. Ortega, 86, passed away August 28, 2017 after a very brief illness with members of her family by her side.

She is survived by her children, Amanda McNeese and husband, David, David Ortega and wife, Kay, Anna Ortega and husband, Gerald Greenhouse and Paul Ortega; grandchildren, Mike and wife, Wendy, Leisa and husband, Jay, Carly and husband, Doug, Daniel, Alicia, Andrew, Emilee and Nathan; and great-grandchildren, Ivey, Myles, Lili, Logan, Calden, Layton and Madeline. She is also survived by her siblings, Lucy, Angie, Louise and husband, Randy, Rosie, Read More

LAWRY WEBB MANN July 9, 1931 – Sept. 2, 2017

Lawry Webb Mann, 86, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday, September 2, 2017, while surrounded by his loving family.  Lawry was a man who gave much to his family, church, community and nation.  He made the world a better place and will have a place in our hearts forever.

He was born July 9, 1931 in Yakima, Washington. When Lawry was 11 years old, his father Oren, mother Barbara and brother Jerry moved to Candle, Alaska, just south of the Arctic Circle. This was truly a highlight of his life and started his love of travelling. After World War Read More

ROSA LEE SMITH Aug. 28, 2017

Rosa Lee Smith, 101, passed away on Monday, August 28, 2017 in Los Alamos.

She was raised in Texas and graduated from Stanton High School in Stanton, Texas. She married in 1933 to J.E. Herring and they lived in Denver City, Texas, where she was the city secretary. Rosa Lee and J.E. had one daughter, Jerry Eugenia Herring. They divorced in 1948.

Rosa Lee had an insurance company in Denver City, TX. She met and married Art Smith in 1952 and they moved to Hobbs, NM. They moved to Farmington in 1958 and they loved it. She was active in the First United Methodist Church, golf, Eastern Read More

GEORGE GRANT HILL April 19, 1930 – Aug. 27, 2017

George Grant Hill, age 87, passed away peacefully in his home on August 27th, 2017. George was born on April 19, 1930 in Lisbon Falls, Maine. He attended the University of Maine, where he obtained a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering.

In 1952, George married the love of his life, Donna Lord. George and Donna had two children; David and Kathryn (Kathy). They lived in St. Albans, West Virginia for eight years where he worked for Union Carbide Corporation, specializing in Olefin plant design. In 1962, the Hills moved to Los Alamos, NM. George Read More

MITCHELL JAMES RENDELL Aug. 7, 1942 – Aug. 22, 2017

Mitchell James Rendell, 75, passed away Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

Mitch was born on August 7, 1942 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the late Carroll and Gladys Rendell.  He married Sally Macaulay Mary Butler on October 24, 1963.

Mitch served in the United States Navy for 22 years with assignments all over the world including Okinawa, Japan, and Melbourne, Australia.  After his time in the Navy, he worked for many years as a budget analyst and had a business degree from the University of Maryland. He was active in retirement, playing golf several Read More

HERTA SCHMIDT June 17, 2017

Herta Schmidt, 95, of Santa Fe passed away on June 17, 2017.

A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Los Alamos. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28, followed by internment at 1:30 p.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Berardinelli Funeral Home.​ Read More

NELSON Q. ATENCIO Aug. 20, 2017

Nelson Quirino Atencio, age 88, beloved father and brother, passed away peacefully, Sunday, August 20, 2017. He was born in Dixon, NM and was a resident of Albuquerque.

Nelson was a proud Veteran who served our country in the United States Army during the Korean conflict. Nelson was a respected Church Elder and usher for many years at The United Church of Los Alamos. He enjoyed ice fishing, fly fishing, hunting, and horses.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Quirino and Corina Atencio; his wife, Vita; his son, Orlando; siblings, Hector, Dennis, John Atencio Read More

LOIS ANN ALEXANDER ​Sept. 29, 1931 – Aug. 8, 2017 

Lois Ann Alexander, 85, passed away in Grand Junction, Colorado on August 8, 2017.

Lois was born on September 29, 1931, in Sigel, Wisconsin, to the Reverend Gustav and Emma Krueger. She was the fourth of six children. Lois attended the Milwaukee School of Nursing and then moved to Denver, Colorado, in 1955 to live with her sister Jean, and to work at Colorado General Hospital. On April 1, 1957, Lois and her dear friend, Nancy Maltrud, borrowed and loaded up a green Hornet and headed to a land unknown–Los Alamos, New Mexico–to Read More

KATHLEEN (KATHY) ANN GIBBONS Feb. 6, 1962 – Aug. 13, 2017

Kathy had a very big heart and was loved by many. All she wanted to do in her life was to help everyone she encountered; especially those in need. Wherever she went she made people happy, satisfied, and content. She had a very good work ethic and did everything with integrity. She loved working at Verizon and Smith’s Marketplace while she worked there.

Though we lost her very unexpectedly, we will always love her and hold her in our hearts. She is preceded in death by her Father, Virgil Scott, and her Sister, Sandra Embry.

She is survived by her mother Read More

DOROTHY MOZELL MINOR Jan. 5, 1925 – Aug. 14, 2017

Dorothy Mozell Minor passed away peacefully on August 14, 2017 after a long illness. She was 92. Dorothy was born January 5, 1925 in Tyler, Texas and later moved to San Angelo. It was there she met Stanley Daily her first husband. They were married in 1942 and then moved to Nebraska, Stan’s home state. In 1951 Stan got a job with the Pro Force in Los Alamos. He later worked for the LASL as a metallurgist.

Stan preceded Dorothy in death July 20, 1968.

After Stan’s passing, Dorothy remained in Los Alamos, working at administration department of LASL.

Dorothy Read More

ROSE ELIZABETH BUTERA June 9, 1923 – Aug. 7, 2017

Rose Butera passed away on August 7, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents Salvatore and Laura Mantione, her two husbands John Giannelli and Charles Butera, and her two sisters and their husbands Josephine and Archie “Pete” Roebuck and Annabel and Floyd “Bob” Schrader.

Rose was born and grew up in The Bronx, NY and later moved to Queens. She loved learning and teaching others what she had learned. Rose also loved crafting and was very active at the local Senior Center. She was a very outgoing and social person who, perhaps above all, loved to Read More

LONNIE F. DURAN Dec. 4, 2016

Lonnie F. Duran, 56 of Dixon, went to his Everlasting Life on December 4, 2016. He is preceded in death by his beloved mother Eliza Duran, and grandparents, Abelino and Nicanora Duran and Fidel and Delfina Martinez.

He first attended catholic school in Dixon, then in Los Alamos, and graduated from Espanola in 1978. Upon graduation he left to Kansas and joined Ironworkers Local 10, then returned to Albuquerque where he completed his apprenticeship with Local 495. Soon after he began his life with “Gin,” they had their son and was lucky enough to retire from KSL in Los Alamos, Read More

MICHAEL F. PASIEKA June 21, 2017

Michael F. Pasieka, age 54, beloved son and brother, passed away on Wednesday, June 21, 2017. 

Michael was an accomplished and skilled registered nurse, and had expertise in many areas, from ER to OR to flight nurse. He began his interest and training in nursing at the Los Alamos Medical Center shortly after graduating from Los Alamos High School. Michael had recently received his license to practice nursing in the state of Alaska, and he was considering certification for addiction recovery support counseling. He was, above all else, a true health care professional.  Read More

ROBERTA TOLEDO Aug. 3, 2017

Roberta Toledo, 61, a resident of Rio Lucio (Penasco) passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2017.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Frances Padilla; and her niece, Michelle Decoteau (Padilla).

Roberta was born in Albuquerque and moved with her family to Los Alamos when she was 12 years old. She graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1973 and went on to serve two years in the United States Marines working at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Roberta’s creativity, finesse, and technical expertise provided her with a broad spectrum of job opportunities, Read More

STELLA PACHECO July 31, 2017

Stella Pacheco, 67, a resident of Rio Lucio (Peñasco) passed away to be with our Lord on Monday, July 31, 2017, with her loving children by her side.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Octaviano and Adiana Pacheco; her maternal grandparents, Jose and Pablita Pacheco; paternal grandparents, Moses and Sophia Pacheco; her spouse of 47 years, Francis Sanchez; sister, Merlinda Vigil; brothers, Charlie Pacheco, Octaviano Pacheco Jr. and Joe Pacheco; special nephew, Joe (Shorty) Mondragon and grandson, Christopher Lueras, may all their souls rest in peace.

Stella Read More

BETH RAMAGE BRESHEARS Aug. 5, 1966 – June 14, 2017

Beth Ramage Breshears, age 50, of White Rock passed from this earth into the loving arms of Jesus on June 14, 2017, after a courageous journey through ALS.

She was born August 5, 1966 in Cincinnati, Ohio to Thomas Warren and Jane Terry Ramage, who preceded her in death.

She attended Augusta, Georgia schools including the Academy of Richmond County, where she was Valedictorian and a cheerleader. She graduated from Furman University in 1988 with a degree in Accounting. She and Scott got married the same year. After earning her CPA, she joined Read More