Obituaries

MANUEL “MANNIE” MARTINEZ, JR. Nov. 8, 1939 – Sept.13, 2015

Manuel “Mannie” Martinez, Jr. of Espanola, NM passed away unexpectedly in Santa Fe, NM on September 13, 2015 at the age of 75.

Manuel is survived by his daughter Liz Martinez of Espanola, NM; granddaughter Kyanna Martinez of Espanola, NM; grandson Travis Martinez and his wife Britney Martinez of Espanola, NM; & close family friend Linda Collier of Los Alamos, NM.

He is preceded in death by his wife Pauline C. Martinez of Espanola, NM; mother Louisa Martinez of La Villita, NM; his sister Melina Trujillo of Chamita, NM; & brother Read More

EDDIE VAN HARRISON Jan. 7, 1936 – Sept. 3, 2015

Eddie Van Harrison, 79, of Los Alamos, passed away unexpectedly on September 3, 2015.

Eddie was born January 7, 1936, in Altus, Oklahoma, to Edwin Harrison and Verna Van Cleave Harrison. Verna passed away shortly after Eddie’s birth, after which Edwin moved to Gallup, NM.

He married Polly Gonzales of Gallup on Dec. 9, 1941. The family moved to Los Alamos in the spring of 1945 during the final months of the Manhattan Project.

As a teenager Eddie competed in local rodeos, where he rode bucking broncos. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1953, Read More

NINA LAURITSEN LUJAN Sept. 11, 2015

Nina Lauritsen Lujan, 71, was welcomed into Heaven Sept. 11, 2015. She was the daughter of the late Mads and Kira Lauritsen.

Nina was an honor graduate of Bayport-Blue Point High School on Long Island (1961) and Wagner College (1965) where she received a degree in elementary education. During her college years she spent a semester in Bergenz, Austria. She graduated from the University of Hawaii (1968) with a master’s degree in special education.

Nina taught for 30 years mostly in Los Alamos, N.M. She was excellent teacher and was admired by coworkers, Read More

JACK FULLER Sept. 7, 2015

Jack Fuller, 83, has laid down his hiking poles for the last time.

Only a month ago, he and his wife Helen returned from a hiking trip to Iceland, which included soaking in the natural hot springs there. Multiple Myeloma unexpectedly cut short his vital life.

Jack was a man ahead of his time. A native of Palestine, Texas, he graduated high school at age 16, graduated college at 20 and got his PhD in physics by age 24. After graduation, he taught physics for two years at Baylor University, his alma mater.

It’s also where he met his future bride, Helen Langston. They took a chemistry Read More

MARY JEAN SKARRA Dec. 14, 1949 – Aug. 29, 2015

Mary Jean Skarra passed away peacefully on the evening of Saturday, August 29th after an arduous experience with brain cancer.

Mary was born on December 14th, 1949 and is survived by her daughter, Isis Skarra-Pergler-Stoffers and her husband, Joe Stoffers; her grandson, Greyson Stoffers; Her sisters Terese Skarra and Susan Skarra; her brothers, David Skarra, Paul Skarra, Mike Skarra, and Stuart Skarra; and her former husband Charles Pergler. She was preceded in death by her brother John Skarra and her parents Perry and Rozelle Skarra.

She Read More

RICHARD A. “DICK” KELLER Sept. 1, 2015

Richard A. “Dick” Keller, a Fellow at Los Alamos National Laboratory, died on September 1, 2015 in Los Alamos, NM. He was 80 years old. His death was related to his long struggle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA, Dick lived with his family in Los Alamos since 1976 where he distinguished himself in the field of analytical chemistry, earning an international reputation. Among his contributions to science, the most notable was his pioneering of single molecule detection, a technique he and his collaborators applied to DNA sequencing as part Read More

JACKIE C. MARTINEZ Aug. 31, 2015

Jackie Martinez, age 66, our family’s strongest supporter and protector, passed away Monday, August 31, 2015 from complications of lung cancer.

Jackie was born in Los Alamos in 1949 and graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1967. He continued to have a very close relationship with several of his high school buddies, the Los Alamos “Clan.”

Jackie had three beautiful daughters and a stepson that he was so very proud of and close to. In 1985 he married the love of his life and best friend, Jana. They had one of those very unique and special marriages one rarely sees. Read More

JEANNE COLLINS BARCK July 29, 2015

Jeanne Collins Barck of Espanola, New Mexico passed away in her home on July 29, 2015.

She was born in Cedartown, Georgia, in 1936, the daughter of Emily Sanders Collins and William Goodall Collins. After earning degrees from Duke University, she moved to New Mexico and taught at the New Mexico Girls’ School in Albuquerque, served as a school principal and worked in various education roles in schools in Los Lunas, Farmington, Anthony, and Pojoaque. She was also Assistant Director in the Title I Office of the New Mexico Department of Education, auditing programs Read More

STEPHEN ‘GREG’ GRAVENER May 3, 1971 – Aug. 20, 2015

Stephen “Greg” Gravener, born May 3, 1971, in Riverside, California passed away at his home in El Rito, New Mexico on August 20, 2015, at the age of 44.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Sue Gravener, and grandparents Clarence and Betty Gravener, and Lloyd and Maudie Prescott.

Greg moved to Kingman, Arizona with his family in 1980, and graduated from Kingman High School in 1989. He attended Idaho State University, and served his country in the United States Navy.

Greg was employed at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Among his many talents and Read More

KENNETH ALFRED SIMI Aug. 21, 2015

Kenneth Alfred Simi, age 61, passed away on Aug. 21, 2015 following a sudden onset of aggressive metastatic cancer.

He was born in Los Alamos, NM. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1973. He attended NMSU. He spent many years in retail service. 

Kenneth loved the mountains, glad of growing up in the Jemez Mountains. He had a passion for all animals. He especially loved his two pug dogs named Reebok and M.C. Escher. He was grateful for time spent with him by family and friends. He was a kind and generous person, happy with life’s simple pleasures much preferring Read More

CATHY LORRAINE NOGAR Aug. 21, 2015

Cathy Lorraine Nogar, 91, a resident of La Mesilla, passed away on Friday, August 21, 2015.

A lifelong dog aficionada, Cathy helped found the Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club and was well known in the dog breeding world, as much for her Hopi Kachina Dalmatians as for her work as a respected dog show judge. Cathy loved to be active, first in showing and jumping horses in her native Chicago, and later enjoying the community at East Park Pool and later at the Espanola Valley pool. Her sense of humor and joie de vivre were contagious, and her love of books and reading voracious. Read More

BILLY MAC HOGAN Oct. 1, 1942 – Aug. 15, 2015

It is with great sadness that the family of the late Billy Mac Hogan announces his passing. Bill, 72, died on Saturday, August 15, 2015 in Los Alamos, New Mexico after a short battle with glioblastoma multiforme (brain tumor).

Bill was born October 1, 1942 in Montague County, Texas. Because of his father’s work, Bill moved to several different towns in Texas as a young boy. In 1950, Bill and his family moved to Lubbock, Texas. He graduated from Monterey High School in 1961 and attended Texas Tech University until 1967 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Read More

ADAM MICHAEL LANG Feb. 6, 1993 – July 22, 2015

Adam Michael Lang passed away on July 22, 2015 in Arcata, CA at the age of 22.

He was born in Albuquerque, NM on February 6th,1993. He moved to Los Alamos in August of 2000. He was an excellent student and graduated from Los Alamos High School in 2011. While attending high school, he participated in LAHS XC and track. Afterwards, he attended UC Davis for 2 ½ years majoring in engineering and then switched to Humboldt State University where he studied botany.

Adam was an avid runner, hiker, skier, gardener, and musician. He embraced nature. He loved the trails Read More

JOAN ALCOUFFE Aug. 16, 2015

Joan Alcouffe, 75, a resident of Los Alamos passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2015.

She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Davenport, and mother, Frances Davenport. She was educated at the University of Idaho from 1958-1962 and was an active member of the KKG sorority. She met her husband of 51 years, Raymond Alcouffe, in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1963 where she was an elementary school teacher. They married and had five children: Michael, John, Matthew, Douglas, and Cari. She was a devoted wife and mother and enjoyed traveling internationally, writing, and cooking.  Read More

RICHARD “RICK” JAMES SOFALY May 2, 1943 – Aug. 10, 2015

Richard “Rick” James Sofaly, 72, died on Monday, August 10, 2015 at his home in Killeen, Texas surrounded by his loving family. 

Rick was born May 2, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the only son of Dick and Gloria Sofaly. As a teenager, his family moved to southern California where he attended and graduated from San Diego State College and where he met and married his wife of fifty years, Karla Foight. Together, they had four children whom they raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico. 

Rick enjoyed a successful career in computer technology, Read More

DAVID (DAVE) DVORAK July 21, 2015

David (Dave) Dvorak, beloved husband, father, and brother passed away on July 21, 2015. 

He is survived by his wife Kate, daughter Lorrie, son Ry, and sister Mary Foglesong, and brothers James (Jim) Dvorak and Robert (Bob) Dvorak. He was preceded in death by his father James (Jim) Dvorak, mother Genevieve (Gen) Dvorak, and brother Richard (Rick) Dvorak.

Dave was a man who, in spite of his high level of education, could sit down with anyone and make them feel important. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him throughout the world.

A memorial service will Read More

DONNA MAE FISCHER WILSON Aug.15, 1934 – Aug. 7, 2015

Donna Mae Fischer Wilson died Aug. 7, 2015, just a week shy of her 81st birthday, in Cañon City, Colorado, from complications following a pelvic fracture.

On Aug.15, 1934, her grandmother, Anna Kronschnabel Fischer, delivered Donna into the world at West Spring Street in Appleton, Wisconsin. She was the sixth of nine children born to Frank and Anne Fischer.

Donna attended elementary school at St. Edwards’s at Mackville and St. Joseph’s in Appleton, Wisconsin, and graduated from Appleton High School West in 1952. Donna enlisted in the Read More

Rev. CASIMIRO ROCA-TOSCAS Aug. 4, 2015

Rev. Casimiro Roca-Toscas, S.F., former rector of el Santuario de Chimayo in Chimayo, N.M., died Aug. 4, 2015.

At the time, he was at home in the rectory at Holy Family Church, with his brothers Sons of the Holy Family and caretaker, who have been helping him for several years. He had celebrated his 97th birthday 11 days earlier.

After 33 active years living in Spain and Italy, Fr. Roca came to Chimayo in 1954. For 52 of the next 60 years, he worked at restoring the Shrine, greeting pilgrims and hearing their confessions, blessing their vehicles and religious Read More

GENEVIEVE DVORAK June 20, 2015

Genevieve (Gen) Dvorak passed away peacefully in her sleep on June 20, 2015. She had recently moved to the Denver area to be near family members. 

Gen was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 70 years, James, and her son Richard Dvorak. She is survived by daughter Mary Foglesong, sons James, David (who recently passed away on July 21, 2015), and Robert Dvorak, as well as numerous grand children and great grand children.

A memorial service for the family was held at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, followed by burial with her husband.

Donations Read More

NANCY PORTO HAND July 29, 2015

Nancy Porto Hand, 66, passed away Wednesday, July 29, 2015 in San Antonio, Texas after a short battle with lung cancer. 

Nancy was the oldest child of Bernice and Tony Porto (former deacon at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church).   

Nancy is survived by her husband Joe Hand of Harper, Texas, daughter Cara Cordova (Orlando) of Albuquerque and son Jason Zimmerman (Kim) and grandson Austin of Lee’s Summit, Mo., brothers Andy Porto (Catherine) and Dan Porto of Albuquerque and sister Patty Porto Schmidt (Don) of St. Petersburg, Fla., nephews Read More

TOM SCOLMAN July 3, 2015

Tom Scolman, 88, of Rio Verde, AZ, died on July 3, 2015. 

A former Los Alamos resident, he was born and raised  in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Fresh out of high school, he joined the Navy for two years of service. He returned to Wisconsin and achieved his Bachelors and Masters degrees at Beloit College.

He received his Doctorate degree in Nuclear Physics in 1955 from the University of Minnesota and in 1956 accepted a position at LANL as a staff  member in W-7. He retired in 1989 as J Division Leader.

Scolman was an avid skier and golfer and enjoyed creating Southwestern Read More

Dr. LAWRENCE EDWARD (LARRY) WANGEN Oct. 3, 1941 – July 27, 2015

Larry Wangen, age 73, a resident of Edmonds, WA since 1997, passed away Monday July 27, 2015 at the Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington, surrounded by his beloved family. Larry and his family fought hard for two months following a tragic surgical accident.

He was born October 3, 1941 in New Rockford, North Dakota to Obert and Violet (Pfeiffer) Wangen. Larry grew up in North Dakota and at age 13, he and his family moved to Lynnwood, WA where he graduated from Edmonds High School in 1959. After graduation, he served in the Read More

BRENDA HATLER July 24, 2015

Brenda Hatler, a faithful Christian who loved her Lord and Savior, passed away on Friday evening July 24, 2015 at the age of 70 years. 

Brenda was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM.  She attended Highland High School and UNM in Albuquerque where she met her future husband, Larry.  Brenda and Larry lived briefly in Beaumont, Texas, before moving to Los Alamos in 1968, where they raised their family.

She was a loving wife and was always there for her two sons in all their endeavors. Brenda loved her family, especially her grandchildren, and lived much of Read More

JAMES “JIM” CAFFEY STURROCK, Sr. April 27, 1945 – July 24, 2015

James “Jim” Caffey Sturrock, Sr., age 70, of Espanola, died Friday, July 24, 2015, at his son’s home in Lawrenceville, GA while surrounded by his children.

He was born April 27, 1945, to James Parker and Catherine (Caffey) Sturrock, both of blessed memory, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Jim attained the rank of Eagle Scout in 1962. He received Bachelor’s (1967) and Master’s (1968) degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Jim served as a Captain in the Unites State Air Force at Hill AFB, Read More

FRANCHESCO (CHESCO) VALDEZ July 18, 2015

Franchesco (Chesco) Valdez, 41, a resident of Los Alamos entered Heavens gates on Saturday, July 18, 2015.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Valentin and Fermina Valdez; maternal grandparents, Keith and Pinky Kelley and aunt, Karla Kelley-Zimmerly.

Chesco was a very loving husband, father, son, brother and friend. He was a very generous, kind, patient and humble man. He adored his wife so much and loved her and his kids with all his heart.

He was an exterminator for The Bugman for 21 years and loved his job. His customers admired him Read More

RICARDO AGAPITO (PETE) HERRERA Aug. 12, 1943 – July 8, 2015

On Wednesday, July 8, 2015, Ricardo Agapito (Pete) Herrera, 71, of Las Vegas, NV, and formerly of El Rancho, NM was called home to the Lord after a brief battle with cancer.

His love and kind spirit will be carried on through his wife Elsie, of 53 ½ years and their sons, Ken (Theresa), Kevin (Janet), Karl (Nadia); 6 grandchildren, Nicole, Kennetha, Kacy, Kruz, Kyle, Sienna; 8 great-grandchildren; Rudy, Matthew, Layla, Presley, Jordan, Kylie, Courtney, Ivy, and step-granddaughter, Jill Park.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Agapito Read More

JOSE B. LUJAN April 21, 1928 – July 21, 2015

Jose B. Lujan, 87, of Los Alamos passed away peacefully on July 21, 2015, surrounded by his family.

He was born on April 21, 1928 to Jose Salome Lujan and Delmiria Roybal Lujan of El Rancho, NM.

Twice widowed, Benny married Eutimia Gallegos on October 23, 1950. They had three daughters, Venita, Bertha, and Mercedes.  He often bragged that he was “surrounded by women”.  He married Irma Dall on February 23, 1985, and became father to Alicia, Teri, and Wayne.

Benny was also preceded in death by his parents, Salome and Delmiria Lujan, his parents-in-law, Read More

MAUREEN “MOE” C. KLEIN July 17, 2015

Maureen “Moe” C. Klein, of Rio Rancho New Mexico, age 73, died July 17, 2015 at Anna Kaseman Hospital after a short illness.

Moe was an avid golfer who lived life to the fullest, loved to travel and spend time with friends. She was the life of the party and you always knew she was in the room by her laugh.

She is predeceased in her death by her brother Marvin and her parents. She leaves behind her beloved husband of 36 years, John Klein and is survived by her sons Donnie Torres and his wife Mary Alei; Scott Torres; her daughters Kim Christensen and her husband Matt; and Sheri Read More

BEN ORTIZ Oct. 5, 1937 – July 18, 2015

Ben Ortiz, 77, of Nambe, passed away in his home following a lengthy illness on Saturday, July 18, 2015 surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Santa Fe on October 5th, 1937 to Jose Manuel Ortiz and Josefita Sandoval Ortiz of Nambe.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Gloria Ortiz, Maria Longacre, Loretta Ortiz; niece Carrie Lupenski; parents-in-laws Joe I. and Bernice Maestas; brother-in-law Walter Maestas; and grandson Keith Medina.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Patsy; his children Marco Ortiz and wife, Lynnea; Marla Gabaldon Read More

THOMAS ARTHUR PETERSON July 20, 2015

Thomas Arthur Peterson passed peacefully from this world on Monday morning, July 20, 2015 at the age of 56, with his sister Anne and partner Hilde Dillien at his side.

He was born in Los Alamos, NM on February 18, 1959. Tom attended school in Los Alamos and went on to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics at the University of New Mexico.

Most of his professional career was spent working at Pajarito Scientific, first in Los Alamos, and later in Santa Fe. His work led him to travel to many places, and it was while on assignment in Belgium he met Hilde, the love of his Read More

CHRISTOPHER CHARLES WATSON Jan. 23, 1984 – July 2, 2015

Christopher Charles Watson, 31, died July 2, 2015 from injuries suffered in a bicycle/car accident in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Chris was born January 23, 1984 in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where he grew up playing soccer, baseball, swimming, diving and becoming an accomplished drummer in his high school marching band. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 2002.

Before graduating from the University of New Mexico, he spent half a year living in Buenos Aires, Argentina and exploring South America while becoming fluent in Spanish.

He loved Read More

KAREN ANN MEHLIN Aug. 8, 1954 – July 11, 2015

Karen Ann Mehlin passed away peacefully on July 11, 2015 at Sherman Home Hospice in Phoenix, Arizona after a courageous battle with cancer at the age of 60.

Karen was born to Robert and Joan Broeker on August 8, 1954 in Clovis, New Mexico. She was the older of two daughters and grew up in St. Louis and St. Joseph, Missouri. She graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in 1977. She lived and worked in Mobile, Alabama; Kansas City, Missouri; Lincoln, Nebraska; Denver, Colorado; Albuquerque and Los Alamos, New Mexico.

Karen was active in the communities Read More