CLO LOREE MINGO Feb. 16, 1938 – Jan. 18, 2018
Clo Loree Mingo, Ph.D. drew her last breath on January 18, 2018 at 12:28 p.m. With family and friends by her side, she was calm by the crackling fireplace in her home of over 50 years in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Born Clo Ann Sjolander February 16, 1938, in Holmen, Wisconsin, Clo brought untold skills and mettle inherent to her home on the farm, to University of Wisconsin (B.A., English), to New Mexico. After some years in Los Alamos with husband Thomas Robert Loree, she settled in El Rancho, single with three small children.
After marrying Dennis Kay Mingo, she became a dynamic math teacher of both students and instructors – first in Pojoaque Valley Schools and Santa Fe Indian School, then of graduate students and NM teaching institutions.
Single again and remaining so, with Masters and Doctoral Degrees in Curriculum and Instruction for Multicultural Teacher Education (Mathematics & Technology) earned at University of New Mexico, she mentored generations of students and teachers as faculty of both UNM and New Mexico State University. She often joked that she “failed retirement,” continuously offering her expertise to students and teachers, to the NM Higher Education Department, and to the NM Legislature as an analyst.
Clo did this while quietly mentoring her progeny and their growing branches, and anchoring communities of friends. She raised four strong children, all happily married; then, guided her seven grandchildren.
A master of the hearth and festive feasts, she welcomed friends and family in her traditional Norwegian bunad, with all the trimmings made from scratch: at Clo’s “Thanksgiving Restaurant”, overflowing Lille Jule Open House at Christmas, and family weddings. Stewarding heritage Midwestern and New Mexican of charity, good will, and acceptance, Clo’s grit and grace will forever bless those who knew her.
Clo loved Nature; she lived it. She loved adventure, exploring many continents. Her friends who treasured her include traveling companions or those she visited who span the globe. Among friends who will miss her are her many book groups engaged in continuous dialogue of good literature.
Clo’s treasury skills and tireless generosity were also bestowed upon multiple non-profit institutions throughout the State of New Mexico, including Jemez House, which provides education and job training scholarships to post-secondary students from New Mexico residential programs; New Mexico Chapter, National New Deal Association; Master Gardeners of Santa Fe; and Sol Arts, a performance arts organization.
She is beloved and missed by her four children and their families:
- son Derek Robert Loree and wife Lisa (Sinclair) Loree, their 2 adult children Colin Patric Loree and Kara Sinclair (Loree) Lopez and husband Anton Lopez;
- son Soren Thomas Loree and wife Irmgard (Em Quillman) Loree, their 3 adult children Yanik Thomas Loree, Ethan Olaf Loree, Gavin Frank Loree;
- daughter Kristen Moffat Loree and husband John Reynolds Bartlit, their 2 adult children Elihu (Eli) Rahn Bartlit and Nola Loree Bartlit;
- son Olaf Kay Mingo and wife Mrs. Michael (Regnier) Mingo.
Her brother Peter Sjolander, sister Helen (Sjolander) Brown, and their families; families by marriage; and her many friends also cherished her. They and colleagues who widely respected Clo all greatly miss her.
To honor her memory, please donate to http://jemezhouse.com. A memorial and wake will be held on her would-be 80th birthday at her home on February 16, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. Clo’s friends and colleagues are invited to attend at 20 County Road 84B, Santa Fe, NM 87506.
