Obituaries

KENNETH L. COOP March 24, 1937 – May 16, 2026 

Ken Coop, a devoted husband, father and grandfather, passed away May 16, 2026, at the age of 89. 

Ken was born in Fairfield, Iowa where he and his brother spent their childhood doing farm chores, playing with their cousins, and attending a one-room country school. At 18, Ken joined the U.S. Navy and spent the next four years specializing in air traffic control.

With assistance from the G.I. Bill, he went to Colorado School of Mines where he played football and worked at the Coors brewery. He graduated with a master’s degree in Nuclear Physics from the University Read More

RITA M. APEL July 12, 1929 – May 6, 2026

Rita Apel of Los Alamos, New Mexico, whose generous, loving warmth reached countless hearts, passed unexpectedly on May 6, 2026, at the age of 96.

Rita was born July 12, 1929, in Chimayo, NM to Enemecio O. and Benita Martinez the same year her father completed the family chapel, Capillita de Santa Rita. When she lost her mother at a young age, Rita and her siblings were raised by their oldest sister, Tillie. They grew up on their farm surrounded by the beautiful northern New Mexico countryside and forged a bond that lasted a lifetime.

Rita spent her high school summers Read More

CHRISTOPHER EARL ROSS Dec. 8, 1970 – May 31, 2026

Christopher Earl Ross, 55, of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed away on May 31, 2026.

Chris was born on December 8, 1970, and raised in Los Alamos. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1989 and dedicated more than 25 years of service to Los Alamos National Laboratory, where he was respected for his hard work, commitment, and professionalism.

Chris had a lifelong passion for sports. He was a devoted fan of the Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Flyers, and Chicago Cubs. Beyond being a fan, Chris excelled as an athlete, particularly in basketball and Read More

NIMA DIANE WARD May 4, 1934 – March 2, 2026

Nima Diane Ward, beloved mother, teacher and legislative advocate, died March 2, 2026, at the age of 91. She passed peacefully at St Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe surrounded by family. Nima was born May 4, 1934, in Los Angeles, CA to David and Mable Roland.

She graduated from Augustana College in Moline Illinois with a BA in education 1955. Nima met John Ward at Augustana, and the couple soon married and moved to Los Alamos, NM in 1957 where Nima began teaching second grade at Aspen Elementary and would go on to raise her family of four boys. In 1984 Nima began a 16-year Read More

JOHN CAPPIS April 24, 1942 – April 29, 2026

DALLAS, Texas – On Wednesday evening, April 29, 2026, John Cappis, age 84, quietly passed away of natural causes following an 18 year battle to still have a quality life after suffering a traumatic car accident and subsequent strokes. 

John was born in Telluride, Colorado, at the old hospital (now Historic Museum), and had many fond memories of a childhood in a small town including outside adventures from climbing different peaks, downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, snow mobiling, hunting with his dad and, of course, jeeping.

He inherited Read More

JEFFREY DALE PARKINSON May 22, 1963 – May 16, 2026

Jeffrey Dale Parkinson, 62, passed away from heart failure on May 16, 2026, in Neiva, Huila, Colombia.  He was born on May 22, 1963, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, to Joseph Lynn and Bonnie Joy Parkinson.

Growing up in Los Alamos, Jeff developed a lifelong passion for the outdoors. He spent countless hours backpacking, hunting, and fishing, creating cherished memories with his father and brothers. A proud Hilltopper, he graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1981.

Jeff went on to pursue higher education, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Information Read More

SHERRIE LEE BURK Dec. 23, 1947 – May 20, 2026

With deep love and sorrow, we announce the passing of Sherrie Lee Burk on May 20, 2026. Sher­rie was a devoted mother, grandmother, sister, wife, and friend whose kindness, strength, and generous spirit touched everyone who knew her.

Sherrie was born on Dec. 23, 1947, in Den­ver, Colorado, to Charles Saunders and Harriett Robinson. Shortly after her birth, the family moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where she grew up with her sisters, Katherine “Kitty” Headdy and Dorothy “Dottie” Austin. She graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1965 and later attended Read More

HEDY DUNN March 4, 1943 – May 27, 2026

With great sadness, the Dunn family announces the passing of Hedy (Mannheimer) Dunn, age 83, who peacefully passed away on May 27, 2026, just weeks after a sudden diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. 

Hedy was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and member of the community. After a long career as the director of the Los Alamos Historical Museum, Hedy was a devoted and active volunteer with many organizations, including the Pajarito Environmental Education Center, Bandelier National Monument, the Los Alamos Unitarian Church, and the Santa Fe Opera. Read More

HOWARD LEE GURLEY May 14, 2026

Howard Lee Gurley passed away peacefully from heart disease on May 14, 2026, in Harlingen, Texas, with his mother and father by his side. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in 1967 and grew up in both Albuquerque and Los Alamos.

Lee was a creative and artistic person. After high school, he attended the Colorado Institute of Art and began his career as a graphic artist in New York City, where he lived and worked for over 20 years. He later returned to New Mexico and eventually moved to Texas to help care for his mother.

Lee was a quiet man who rarely spoke much about his life Read More

John FitzPatrick Aug. 28, 1946 – April 17, 2026

John R. FitzPatrick passed away on April 17, 2026, following a brief illness. He was born in Reno, Nevada on August 28, 1946, and grew up in White Pine County, Nevada, in the mining towns of Ruth and Ely. The wide-open outdoor spaces of his childhood resonated with him his entire life.

John graduated from White Pine County High School and attended the University of Utah where he earned a BS in Chemistry. He served in the U.S. Army for 2 years before returning to the University of Utah to complete a PhD in Inorganic Chemistry. Later, while he was working at Read More