Obituaries

DIANA MARIANI Dec. 4, 2016

Diana Mariani of Los Alamos and formerly of North Versailles, Pennsylvania, passed away on Dec. 4, 2016.

Diana was cherished, admired and adored by many including her son, Tommy Stepan; parents, Florindo and Patricia Mariani; siblings Victor (Sandra) Mariani, Philomena (Regis) Bujakowski, and the late Gina Ann Mariani; nieces, nephews and great-niece and nephew; and many close friends.

Diana was a respected business woman and CPA. She graduated at the top of her class from Penn State University and earned her MBA from the University of Colorado. While she led a successful Read More

 RITA MAE (BACHMAN) BOWMAN Nov. 17, 1926 – Nov. 17, 2016

Rita Mae (Bachman) Bowman, 90, was born November 17, 1926, second of the three daughters of Carl Otto and Helen Cecelia Bachman of La Porte, Indiana. She entered eternal life on November 17, 2016, her 90th birthday.

Rita attended La Porte High School, graduating in 1944.  In her senior year, she won a statewide classical piano competition. She also enjoyed playing the cello in a string trio with friends. Her love of music stayed with her throughout her life, and her children remember many happy hours listening to her play her beloved Read More

SIDNEY SINGER Nov. 19, 1927 – Nov. 24, 2016

Sidney Singer, a man of extraordinary persistence when confronting problems, scientific and otherwise, died on November 24, 2016 at his home in Santa Fe.

Sid was born in Detroit on November 19, 1927, to Polish immigrants Freda and Simon Singer. He graduated from Wayne State University in 1951, then got his PhD in nuclear physics and mathematics at the University of Illinois in 1957. He had already been a summer employee at Los Alamos National Laboratory, and upon graduation he joined LANL for a career of 40 years. He retired in 1994 to attend to the health Read More

NANCY CDE BACA Nov. 10, 2016

On Thursday, November 10th, Nancy Cde Baca passed away from a short illness. She passed doing all her favorite things-eating a bowl of homemade, mashed potatoes and gravy, smoking a cigarette and having her favorite drink.

Nancy never liked telling her age, so I won’t start now.

Although Nancy had a limited education, it never stopped her from pursuing things she was interested in. She loved playing the guitar, and she performed along with a partner at the La Fonda Hotel and the Los Alamos Inn. She was a trap shooter, and also loved the sport of hunting.

Nancy was Read More

JOHNNY O. ATENCIO Nov. 14, 2016

Johnny O. Atencio, 76, a lifelong resident of Dixon, passed away of a lengthy illness surrounded by his loving family on Monday, November 14, 2016. 

He was preceded in death by his parents Querino and Corina Atencio; in-laws, Enrique and Frances Vigil; brothers Hector Atencio, Dennis Atencio; sister Ernestina Gonzales; nephews Orlando Atencio, Florencio Atencio; and niece Sara Vences.

Johnny graduated from El Rito in 1960 and later attended Trinidad State Junior College, CO. His career began in Los Angeles, CA, working for McDonald Douglas Aircraft. Read More

LORNA BLOSSOM MCINTYRE Aug. 6, 1919 – Nov. 12, 2016

Lorna Bossom McIntyre, 97, passed away peacefully November 12^th, 2016.

She was proceeded in death by husbands Rea Blossom and James McIntyre, Sister Louise Bennett and son Patrick Blossom. She is survived by her sister Marie, sons Rea Bruce and wife Cindy, James Michael and wife Tionne, David Andrew, Robert Quentin and many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Lorna was a veteran having served in WWII as a Captain in Military Intelligence at the Pentagon in what would become the Defense Intelligence Agency.

She was very Read More

DONALD ROY FRANCIS COCHRAN Oct. 31, 2016

Donald Roy Francis Cochran, 90, of Highlands Ranch, CO, formerly of Los Alamos, NM,  passed peacefully on October 31, 2016, surrounded by his wife, Joan Cochran, and children, Jim Cochran, Robert Cochran, and Marcia Cochran Mahoney. 

Born in San Francisco in 1926 to Guy and Edith Cochran, Don went on to serve the US Navy from 1945-1946, obtain a degree from U.C. Berkeley in 1948, and finish his PhD in Physical Chemistry from Johns Hopkins University in 1954. He moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1954 where he worked for the Los Alamos National Laboratory Read More

SPENCER WHAYNE HILL Dec. 24, 1954 – June 19, 2016

St. George, Utah – Spencer Whayne Hill, 61, passed away peacefully at home, following a nine month battle with brain cancer, on Sunday, June 19, 2016.

He was born December 24, 1954 in Cherry Point, NC to Whayne Bryson Hill and Loma Louise Gracey-Buck Hill. Following his LDS mission to Puerto Rico, and while attending BYU, he married Pamela Jean Stephenson in the Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on September 14, 1978. They were blessed with 5 lovely children.

Over the years, Spencer’s employment has taken his family Read More

LEROY WILLIAM LUCERO, SR. Nov. 23, 1936  – Nov. 6, 2016

LeRoy William Lucero, Sr., 79, a resident of  Santa Fe, New Mexico, died November 6, 2016. He was born November 23, 1936. He is preceded in death by: Luis Lucero (Father), Bernardita Rodriguez/Lucero (Mother), Polly Ortega/Lucero (Ex-Wife), LeRoy Lucero Jr. (Son), and Jimmy Lucero (Son).

He is survived by: Daughter-Bernadette Gallegos (Spouse: Carlos) of Santa Fe; Son-Leroy Lucero, Jr. (Spouse: Sandra) of Santa Fe; Son-Marco Lucero (Spouse: Sandy) of Los Alamos; Son-Rick Muniz of Santa Fe; Brother-Eugene Lucero Read More

STUART D. ORBESEN Oct. 3, 2016

Stuart D. Orbesen, 79, a new resident of Phoenix, Arizona, passed away on October 3, 2016 surrounded by family.

Stuart is preceded in death by his father Clifford, his mother Helen and his brother Thomas. Stuart is survived by his wife Margaret and their beautiful blended family, son Randy Orbesen, wife Kai, daughters Robyn Buck, husband Thomas, and Karen Boise, husband Scott, and step children Charles Hickman, wife Teresa and Lisa Jackson, husband Alton, along with twelve grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Stuart was a loving Read More

ROY DUMONT STONE Jan. 1, 1923 – Oct. 28, 2016

Roy Dumont Stone, 93, resident of White Rock, was born on January 1, 1923 and went to rest with God on October 28, 2016.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Pauline Stone; son, Dale Stone; and grand-daughter, Kathy Wheat.

Roy was a U.S. Marine Corps Veteran of World War II, where he was a photographer. He continued his photography with the Los Alamos National Laboratory until he retired.

Mr. Stone participated with his church, loved to sing the hymns of God, and loved gardening. He will be loved and missed by many family and friends.

Roy is survived Read More

THOMAS DAVIS Oct. 23, 2016

Tomas Davis, age 68, died peacefully on October 23, 2016 following a ten year battle with dementia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Hilda Davis.

Tom grew up in Barnesboro, PA. He attended Catholic University in Washington DC, graduating with a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. After graduation, he moved west to the San Francisco bay area to work at Mare Island Naval Shipyard as a health physicist for their nuclear submarine program.

His work there led to a position at LANL initially in the health physics division and later for a variety of Read More

NANCY LOUISE RHYNARD HASTINGS Aug. 13, 1936 – Oct. 17, 2016

Nancy Louise Rhynard Hastings was born August 13, 1936 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. She passed away Monday, October 17, 2016 at her home surrounded by her loving family.

Nancy will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, sister and friend who will be greatly missed. She was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ and well respected woman who lived her Christian Faith daily.

Nancy is survived by her beloved husband of 61 years, Ray Hastings of Rio Rancho, NM; daughter, Kay Brown and husband Shawn of Corrales, NM; son, Daryl Hastings and Read More

MAX H. BAKER Jan. 9, 1951 – Oct. 19, 2016

After a two-year battle with cancer, Max H. Baker passed from this mortal sphere on October 19, 2016 at his home in Farmington, Utah. He was 65 years old.

Born January 9, 1951, Max was welcomed to this earth by parents Ray S. and Nelda Baker of Teton, Idaho. He learned much about hard work and integrity from his parents as he helped to work the family farm. His perseverance and tenacity carried over to his education, and after graduating from South Fremont High School in 1969, he attended Brigham Young University, graduating with a BA in History and going Read More

ROBERT J. ELLIOTT  Oct. 9, 2016

Robert J. (Bob) (aka Red/Rojo) Elliott, passed away peacefully on Sunday, October 9, 2016, in Los Alamos, NM, in the arms of his family.

The world now has a void where Bob’s exuberant, gregarious, loving, joyful, giving, optimistic, larger-than-life personality has been so alive for the last 90 years.

He was the cherished father of Nancy and Randy Vaughn and the adored grandfather of his “Best in the World” grandchildren, Morgan and Tanner Vaughn, all of Santa Fe, NM.

Bob lived in Los Alamos for the last 65 years, proudly worked for LANL for 51 years, and previously Read More

SIGNE “JUNE” BABICH June 8, 1930 – Aug. 24, 2016

Signe “June” Babich passed quietly in her sleep on August 24, 2016 surrounded by her family.

Born on June 8, 1930 in Superior, Wyoming to Signe Bertina Carlson and Carl A. Anderson, Signe “June” was destined to become a motherly figure.  Being one of nine mouths to feed during the Great Depression and WWII, June knew that the love she was shown from her mother was exactly what she would portray in her own sibling interactions.  June knew that although her life was not filled with wealth and gold, it was filled with much more – family.

June Read More

MICHELLE LYNNE DECOTEAU (PADILLA) Sept. 20, 2016

Michelle Lynne Decoteau (Padilla) passed into the arms of angels on Tuesday, September 20, 2016. Our beloved “Shelly Brown” or “Shell” as her family lovingly called her was a loving mother, daughter, sister, and friend to many.

Michelle was preceded in death by her grandparents, Robert and Frances Padilla, and Lola and Ernest Hodson; uncle, Patrick Hodson; and father of her daughter, Nasario Maldonaldo. 

She was born and raised in Los Alamos, NM and graduated from Los Alamos High School in 2003. Michelle earned an Associates degree Read More

EDWARD J. DOMBROWSKI Jan. 10, 1930 – Sept. 25, 2016

Edward J. Dombrowski was born as the first of eight children to Anthony and Josephine Dombrowski in Bridgeport, CT, on January 10, 1930. He passed away on Sunday morning September 25, 2016, at Sombrillo Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Los Alamos, NM.

He joined the Marine Corps after high school and rose to staff sergeant over the next few years. He left the Marine Corps, married Patricia C. Rimkunas with whom he had five children. During that time he worked at Underwood Corporation and went to night school for a mechanical engineering Read More

MICHAEL ALLEN WOLF Oct. 6, 2016

Michael Allen Wolf (74), a loving husband, father, brother, and friend, passed away on Thursday, October 6, 2016 in Albuquerque, NM.

A natural tinkerer, Michael studied electronics in the Air Force. After his discharge in 1965, he was hired by Los Alamos Scientific Labs (now LANL) where he worked as an Electrical Engineer until 1991. Michael eventually settled in Albuquerque.

Michael is survived by his wife, Diane Bogan-Wolf of Corrales, three children (Robert Wolf, Nichole Evans and Monique Johnston), two step children (Christina and Andrea Herrera), five Read More

NONA BRANDT Jan. 25, 1927 – Oct. 4, 2016

Nona Brandt, beloved wife of Daniel “Danny” Brandt, and mother of Dennis Lee Brandt and Kenneth Alan “Ken” Brandt, died peacefully at home at the age of 89 on October 4, 2016.

Born Evelyn Nona Brandt to Ida Mae Fleming Kimbrel and John Walter Kimbrel on January 25, 1927 in Derby, Colorado, Nona lived in Colorado until she and Danny came to Los Alamos in 1951. Nona, who met Danny at a roller-skating rink in Derby, married Danny on April 26, 1947.

Nona and Danny, along with their sons and daughters-in-law, celebrated 60 years of marriage in 2007 with a trip to Kauai. Read More

ELLA CATHERINE LARKIN Oct. 15, 1933 – Oct. 7, 2016

On October 7, 2016, Ella Catherine Larkin went to be with the Lord surrounded by her loving family at the age of 82. Ella was a resident of Belen (Rio Communities,) New Mexico for the past 24 years. Before this, she resided in Los Alamos, NM for approximately 18 years. Ella was born October 25, 1933 to Frank R. and Matilda Adams in Blairsville, Pennsylvania.

Ella married the love of her life, James E. Larkin, on February 26, 1955 and joined him on a life journey. She lived many places across the country while her husband served in the United States Air force Read More

KATHLEEN ANN JACKSON June 20, 1947 – Sept. 30, 2016

Kathleen Ann Jackson died on September 30, 2016 in Bellingham, Washington, from complications of polycythemia vera, a rare blood disorder.

Kathleen was born June 20, 1947 in Seattle, Washington, and spent her childhood and early life in the Seattle area. As a child, she distinguished herself as an artist, bookworm and independent thinker, traits she retained for life. She was a 1965 graduate of Sammamish High School in Bellevue, Washington. After working as a hairdresser and attending community college for several years, Kathleen entered Read More

BEVERLY STRATTON Sept. 21, 2016

Beverly Stratton died on September 21, just shy of her 90^th birthday. She lived a full and happy life, never shirking from a challenge and always embracing friendships and love.  She will be remembered particularly for her motivation to care for others.

Beverly was born and grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She attended the University of Minnesota and worked in the Physics Department where she met Bill Stratton. Upon his graduation, they married and moved to Los Alamos, sight unseen for Beverly. This became her home for the next 61 years.

She loved New Mexico—its Read More

LUCY LUELLA HUNTER THOMAS Oct. 3, 2016

Lucy LuElla Hunter Thomas, 91, a resident of Los Alamos, NM, went to be with her Lord on October 3, 2016. She passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by her loving family after a long struggle with cancer.

Lucy was born in Tonganoxie, KS and graduated from the University of Kansas where she met the love of her life and husband of 63 years, Edgar Thomas. They moved to Los Alamos in 1954 where they were active members of the community and charter members of the Los Alamos Christian Church. Lucy served as a business teacher at Los Alamos High School from 1965 until Read More

ERIKA E. LONGMIRE Sept. 30, 2016

Erika E. Longmire, 96, a resident of White Rock, N.M., passed away on Friday, September 30, 2016.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Alwin and Marie Gläser and her brother.

Erika was a very loving and caring person. She had nerves of steel that endured a lot in her lifetime. She loved to cook and bake. She was an amazing seamstress. She reupholstered many of the furniture in her home as well as making a lot of her husband Calvin’s clothing. She loved to paint, many of her paintings decorate her home today. She loved to ski. She loved her dog Momo dearly and took him everywhere Read More

DOROTHY LEE TULLY STOLPE Dec. 20, 1928 – Sept. 20, 2016

Join me in honoring the passing of Dorothy Lee Tully Stolpe who departed this life in the early afternoon of September 20, 2016 at the age of 87. She was survived by her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren as well as admiring friends.

Dot or Dottie was born December 20, 1928 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Bernice Leon Tully and Waneeta Augustine Russell. She spent all of her childhood years in Shawnee where she was involved in community activities, worked in local shops and theaters, and became an accomplished artist.

She went to School Read More