Obituaries

MICHAEL P. NARANJO Jan. 31, 1983 – March 8, 2023

The family of Michael Naranjo announces the death of our beloved son, brother, and uncle. Michael passed away in Albuquerque March 8, 2023, after a long courageous battle of congestive heart failure. Michael was surrounded by his loving family and friends.

Michael was born at 6:48 p.m. in the middle of a snowstorm at Los Alamos Medical Center. He was raised in Los Alamos, where he lived most of his life.  Michael was soft spoken and had a quick wit. He loved to laugh and enjoy life.

He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 2001. Michael participated Read More

MICKEY KELLY Feb. 21, 2022

Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2022, Mickey Kelly, Loving Husband and Father, passed away at the age of 68.

Mickey worked in the Grocery Retail businesses for over 40 years before retiring. While Mickey would face a difficult childhood losing his father at a young age and his mother having to support and care for five children. Mickey would ensure that he was always there for his children and family. 

Mickey was preceded in death by his father Thomas his mother Viola, He is survived by his wife Christie, his daughter Tiffany and his Son Jesse.

To his friends and family he will be remembered Read More

STEPHANIE MARIE SYDORIAK March 10, 2023

Stephanie Marie Sydoriak passed away peacefully on Friday, March 10, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. At 96, Stephanie enjoyed a wonderful, energetic life in Los Alamos, New Mexico.

A memorial will be held 1-3 p.m. July 20 at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos.

Stephanie Sydoriak possessed many talents. She was an engaging storyteller, published author and poet, loving mother of six, piano teacher, translator of scientific journals, avid hiker/backpacker/Nordic and downhill skier, and a great listener who gave helpful, thoughtful, loving comments Read More

BETTYLOU K. LEBEDA March 5, 2023

Bettylou K. Lebeda, of Los Alamos, NM, died in the very early morning of March 5, 2023, after a several-year battle with pancreatitis and liver cancer. She passed quietly in her sleep, comforted by her husband Charles and younger daughter Susan. Bettylou was 79.

Bettylou is survived by her husband of 58 years, Charles Lebeda, and her four children and their respective spouses; William and wife Christine; Katherine Richard and husband David; Nicholas and wife Shelley, and Susan Smith.

She was preceded in death by her son-in-law Mark Smith, husband of Susan. She Read More

LAURA ANN BECKLEY July 26, 1954 – March 2, 2023

Laura Beckley passed away March 2 at the age of 68.

Laura was born in San Angelo, TX to Philip W. and Vivien R. Beckley. Laura grew up in both New Mexico and in Texas; attending primary and secondary school in Albuquerque, and summers on the Texas Gulf coast. (She had a life-long affinity for both the charms of the New Mexican Southwest and for all things coastal, and a few times over the years she changed her home base accordingly.

When Laura retired from her “work” life, she spent several years living on the coast in Daytona Beach, FL and became a big fan of the Read More

ALBERT W. (AI) BLACKSTOCK Jan. 25, 1927 – Feb. 19, 2023

Albert W. (Al) Blackstock was born Jan. 25, 1927, to Joseph Beauford and Lela (Virginia) Howdeshell Blackstock in Waco, Texas.

The middle child of three sons, Al demonstrated a penchant for learning at an early age, often choosing studying over outdoor sports, which ultimately led to a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M, a Master of Science from Rice University, and a PhD from North Carolina State University, all in physics. His early college years were interspersed with 2 years serving in the U.S. Navy. While pursuing his PhD, Read More

KATHLEEN WEST POLK 1947– Feb. 28, 2023 

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Kathleen West Polk, a beloved wife, mother and teacher who touched the lives of so many. She passed away Feb. 28, 2023 at 75 years old, leaving  behind a legacy of love and kindness that will live on in the hearts of those who knew her. 

Kathy was born in Grass Valley, California, but spent most of her childhood in Arkansas. She cherished the memories of her childhood in Arkansas, and the lessons she learned there about the value of hard work and determination. Even as she moved on to pursue her dreams and passions, Read More

Daniel “Danny” Sarnowski June 16, 1971-Feb. 20, 2023

Daniel “Danny” Sarnowski – “Starling”, the name he chose and loved as a trapeze performer, succumbed to his struggles with an addiction to painkiller drugs at 2 a.m. Feb. 20, 2023 in Oakland, Calif.

His friend of 31 years, Ena, was at his bedside holding his hand, where, with his last breath of life, Danny opened his eyes and looked at her. As Danny’s mom, who was unable to be with him, the sweetness of this final connection of their friendship could never be described or be more appreciated by me.

Danny was born on June 16, 1971 in Chicago, Illinois Read More

ELSIE D. LOVATO Feb. 27, 2023

Elsie D. Lovato, 75, a resident of Los Alamos, NM, passed away on February 27, 2023.

She is preceded in death by her parents Elfego and Carlota Lovato, sister Christella Lovato, nephew Elfego Lovato III, niece Altagracia Lovato, and sister-in-law Tanny Lovato.

Survived by her son Joshua Lovato, brothers Elfego Lovato Jr (Pat), Amos Lovato, Toby Lovato (Greg), Phillip Lovato and Jake Lovato (Anita); sisters Beatrice Tapie and Gloria Olivas (Felix); and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be no services.

The family of Elsie Lovato has entrusted the care of their Read More

MARGARET MARY WOOD Jan. 15, 2022

Margaret Mary Wood, of Washington D.C., died Jan. 15, 2022, after a long struggle with cancer. She was 61 years old.

Margaret grew up in Los Alamos, NM, and attended Oberlin College where she triple-majored in classics, religion, and medieval history. Moving on from Oberlin, she worked as a paralegal, a cataloguer for two national projects, and was the sole librarian for the US Coast Guard. She landed in the heart of Washington, DC at the Library of Congress Law Library where she was a reference librarian for almost 20 years, taking great pride in educating the public Read More

ROSEMARY N. PISTONE 1941-2023

Rosemary Pistone, 82, succumbed to Parkinson’s disease and endometriosis on February 17th. 

Rosemary was the second daughter of Tony and Christine Jacono of Linwood, PA. She grew up in Linwood with her older sister Angeline and younger sister Chris in a close family who lived in Italian tradition, surrounded by family and friends. 

Her childhood experiences and lessons taught by her Mom and Grandmother (MomMom) guided Rosemary into adulthood and throughout her life. After graduating from Notre Dame High School, Rosemary moved to California to live with an Read More

Raymond G. Elmore

LAPD News:

The Los Alamos Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating a Florida resident who was recently visiting Los Alamos and is presumed missing since early Monday morning.

Police are searching for 44-year-old male Raymond G. Elmore. Elmore was last known to be driving a red 2021 Toyota 4 Runner with Illinois plate FP78051.

Elmore is 6’2” tall and weighs 200 lbs. with hazel eyes.

“We are concerned for the welfare and whereabouts of Mr. Elmore,” Deputy Chief Oliver Morris said. “We ask the public to please call the Los Alamos Police Department Consolidated Read More

WALTER A. STARK Jr. Jan. 6, 2023

Walter A Stark Jr., passed away peacefully in his apartment in Santa Fe amongst his closest family Jan. 6, 2023 after over a year battling cancer. 

Known since childhood as ‘Hootie’ to friends and family alike, Walt enjoyed a wonderful life that continually connected him to New Mexico. Raised in Las Vegas NM, Walt was an undergrad at Princeton and earned his PhD at Berkeley. His degrees took him back to NM to employment in Albuquerque in 1967, where he met his wife, Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Brown. Moving to Los Alamos in 1973, the couple raised their son Chris and built a deep Read More

MICHAEL SCOTT WARREN Oct. 10, 1966 – Feb. 17, 2023

Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, Michael Scott Warren, loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 56 from complications of cancer treatment. Mike was born Oct. 10, 1966, in Sacramento, California to Thomas and Lois (Bahr) Warren. He grew up in South Dakota. He received degrees in Physics and Engineering & Applied Science from Caltech and a PhD in Physics from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Mike’s work spanned many disciplines, with the recurring theme of developing and applying advanced software and computing technology to Read More

DOROTHY E. ALEXANDER Feb. 17, 2023

Dorothy E. Alexander of Casa Grande, AZ, passed away peacefully on February 17, 2023 at the age of 82.

Dorothy or Dottye as she was well known to all her friends, married Roger DiCamillo Sr. in 1960 and a few years later, had their son Roger.

Dottye had a very successful career with the Los Alamos National Laboratory in the Computer Security Facility, and in the spring of 1986 remarried to Kenneth Alexander of Farmington.

From Los Alamos to Belen and finally settling down in Casa Grande, where they met some wonderful friends and enjoyed a happy loving retirement Read More

MANNY MARTINEZ Nov. 19, 1989 – Feb. 10, 2023

The family of Manuelito “Manny” Martinez announces the untimely loss of our beloved son, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend. Manny passed away unexpectedly, in Los Alamos, February 10, 2023.

Manny was born in Santa Fe, raised in Santa Cruz, NM, attended school, resided and worked in Los Alamos. Growing up Manny was active in scouts, band, school clubs, football, rugby, chess, photography, squires and many, many other clubs/activities in Los Alamos, Española and Santa Fe. LA Youth football is where the name “Manny” came to be by Coach Cardon the day Read More

KIMBERLY ANN MCDONALD AMMONS 1958 – Feb. 12, 2023

Feb. 12, 2023, Kimberly Ann McDonald Ammons, loving wife and mother of three children, passed away at the age of 64.

Kimberly was born in Fort Bragg Army Medical Hospital in North Carolina in 1958. Daughter of the late Juanita and John Concannon.

Survived by her husband, Arrandle (Randy) Ammons, three siblings: Danny and Kelly McDonald and Marnie Concannon. A wonderful mother to three children: Heather, Breanna, and Johnathan Ammons. A loving daughter-in-law to Nathan Ammons Sr.

At one time an Accounting Manager at Tech Source in Los Alamos. Read More

LOIS ANN PRICHARD June 13, 1949 – Feb. 8, 2023

After 15 years of enduring and fighting carcinoid cancer Lois Ann Prichard passed away Feb. 8, 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. A graveside service will be held in Provo, Utah Feb. 23, 2023. In Lieu of any flowers please send a donation to New Mexico Cancer Center in Albuquerque.

She had a passion for trout fishing, especially the streams in the Jemez Mountains, teaching young children, working in cub scouts and teaching young boys how to do fun things, growing a garden – vegetable and flowers, and painting and sketching, often landscapes and scenes Read More

ELBERT WAYNE COLSTON Dec. 11, 1938 – Feb. 15, 2023

Elbert Wayne Colston, 84, passed away at home surrounded by family, on February 15, 2023 in Oak Ridge, NC. Elbert was born on December 11, 1938, in Cardwell, MO, to Price and Gladys (Lowe) Colston.

Elbert graduated from Hadley Technical High School in St. Louis, MO. He met his wife Carolyn in St. Louis, and they were married on August 26, 1957, in Corinth, Mississippi. Elbert and Carolyn were happily married for 65 years.

In 1961, Elbert and Carolyn moved to Los Alamos, NM, where Elbert began a new job at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Their two Read More

RUBY HELEN (BURKE) MEADERS March 5, 1921–Jan. 31, 2023

Ruby passed away peacefully in her sleep in the early morning hours of January 31, 2023 to reunite with her beloved husband James (Jim) John Meaders (1919–1984).

Ruby was born on March 5, 1921 in Knowlton, Wisconsin. She was the oldest of two children born to Tillie Hartmann and her 2^nd husband Leon Burke; the family also had four older children from Tillie’s first husband, Max Kujawski, who died in 1917.

Ruby was a happy child, despite some extreme challenges. At age two she contracted Scarlet Fever. The illness robbed her of the hearing in her Read More

GLORIA S. STARNER (Lazarus) July 6, 1942 – Feb. 17, 2023

Gloria S. Starner (Lazarus), long time Los Alamos resident, passed away early Friday morning, February 17, 2023, at Aspen Ridge Lodge in Los Alamos, NM.

Gloria was born July 6, 1942 in Brooklyn, NY to Jack & Fay Schuster. She graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.A. in Elementary Education and worked for a couple years as an Elementary School teacher in New York and Idaho.

Gloria and her former husband, Michael Lazarus then moved to Los Alamos in 1968 where they raised two children, Laurie and Mark. Gloria continued her schooling in mathematics Read More

TERRY ROBINSON Aug. 18, 1942 – Feb. 11, 2023

Terrance “Terry” Dee Robinson of Placitas, NM passed away peacefully at home on February 11, 2023, at the age of 80 years.

Terry was born on August 18th, 1942, in Carlsbad, NM. Terry enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his grandkids. He also enjoyed bowling, refereeing soccer, skiing, woodworking, fixing everything broken, reading, studying history, visiting national parks, and hot air ballooning.

Terry graduated from New Mexico State University and went on to an illustrious 36-year career in mechanical engineering working at Pantex Read More

IRMA FLORENCE MARQUEZ NORRIS Jan. 11, 1932 – Feb. 8, 2023

Chiquita pero picosa was how many knew Irma Florence Marquez Norris. Born and reared in Los Pachecos, a hamlet in Rio Arriba County, Irma was the youngest of four children, three daughters and a son born to Anita Bustos Marquez and Jose Marquez, on January 11, 1932.

Irma died at her Santa Fe home on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. She was 91.

Fond memories of growing up in Northern New Mexico, hard work on the family homeplace, a profound sense of community and a deep love of her extended family were always guiding principles in her life. As a child Read More

SERVERO ‘SLIM’ GONZALES July 2, 1929 – Jan. 31, 2023

Severo “Slim” Gonzales, 93, Espanola, passed away Jan. 31 of natural causes.

He was Born in Espanola, July 2, 1929. The Son of Bences Gonzales and Ernestina Romero Gonzales. He is preceded by: Donald (son), Victor and Raymond (Brothers), and Lauren Noell (sister).

Severo is survived by his Wife of 67 years, Aurora, two Sons, Glenn (Espanola) and David (Boston MA), Sisters, Stephanie Cruz (Boulder CO), Theresa McClendon (Newton, KS). Grandchildren, Andrea and Kristen (Loveland, CO), Elias, Elena and Bryan (Espanola) and Amanda (Santa Read More

DONALD L. UPHAM  Aug. 19, 1932 – Feb. 1, 2023

Don Upham, a longtime resident of Los Alamos, passed away suddenly in Santa Fe Feb. 1, 2023, due to complications resulting from a fall. He was 90 years old.

The youngest of seven children, Don was born at the height of the Great Depression in 1932 to Clifford and Marie Upham on a farm near Buchanan, Michigan. As with all in his family, he helped with the day-to-day running of the farm when not in school. A voracious reader from a young age, he had an innate curiosity in all topics and spent one summer of his youth reading each volume of the family encyclopedia from Read More

SEVERO GONZALES July 2, 1929 – Jan. 31, 2023

Severo “Slim” Gonzales, 93, Española, passed away on January 31, 2023, of natural causes.

He was born in Española, NM on July 2, 1929. The Son of Bences Gonzales and Ernestina Romero Gonzales. He is preceded by: Donald (son), Victor and Raymond (Brothers), and Lauren Noell (sister).

Severo is survived by his Wife of 67 years, Aurora, two Sons, Glenn (Espanola) and David (Boston MA), Sisters, Stephanie Cruz (Boulder CO), Theresa McClendon (Newton, KS). Grandchildren, Andrea and Kristen (Loveland, CO), Elias, Elena and Bryan (Espanola) and Amanda Read More

NANCY L. HOLDERMAN WARNES Dec. 11, 1933 – Feb. 1, 2023

Nancy L. Holderman Warnes passed away Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, at La Vida Llena Life Care Retirement Community in Albuquerque, NM.

Nancy was born Dec. 11, 1933, in Mishawaka, IN. She married her high school sweetheart, Dick Warnes, June 11, 1955. They raised their two children, Bill Warnes and Linda Penaloza, in Los Alamos, where they lived until moving to Albuquerque in 2004.

Nancy retired from the Los Alamos National Laboratory’s Budget Division.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick and infant daughter, Annette Rose. She was blessed Read More

RICHARD C. SWENSON Feb. 3, 1934 – Jan. 27, 2023

Richard Charles Swenson, of Los Alamos, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 27, 2023, after a long battle following a stroke. He was a week short of his 89th birthday.

Richard was born on February 3, 1934, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, to John and Elenor (Anderson) Swenson. He attended a one-room country school with one teacher and 9 students (grades 1-8). He went on to an Agricultural High School designed for children of farmers to attend school only 6 months out of a year with very limited academic education.

After high school, Richard Read More

EDWIN PHILLIP CHAMBERLIN Jan. 7, 1941 – Feb. 2, 2023

Edwin Phillip Chamberlin, age 82, of White Rock, NM, passed away on February 2, 2023, after a brief illness.

Phil was born on January 7, 1941, to Edwin and Gertrude Chamberlin in Glasgow, KY. After graduating from Ball High School in Galveston, TX, Phil went on to receive his PhD in Nuclear Physics at Texas A&M University.

In 1958, Phil met Mary Jo Watts and they wed in 1960, going on to have two sons, Edwin Phillip, Jr. and John William.

Phil joined Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1975, retiring in 1998 after considerable contributions to the Read More

CARL A. THORNTON Feb. 3, 1938 – Jan. 24, 2023

Mr. Carl A. Thornton passed away peacefully Jan. 24, 2023, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, at the age of 84 years old.

Carl is survived by his daughter Jennie Lois Thornton of Corrales, New Mexico, his son Carl Adam Thornton of Corrales, NM, and by his daughter in law Tamela Thornton of Corrales, NM, grandchildren, Josie Lois Dean, Brody Thornton Dean, Carson Adam Thornton, Chase Addison Thornton, Caroline Laura Joy Thornton.

Carl is preceded in death by his wife Lois Jerilyn Thornton, his brother Earl Thornton, and by his brother Glen Thornton. 

Carl was born Read More

MARY FULTON SANDSTROM April 1939 – January 2023

Mary Fulton Sandstrom was born in April of 1939 in Alton, Illinois.

She died peacefully in Louisville, Colorado, in January of 2023 of complications associated with autoimmune disease.

Mary’s father was an officer in the U.S. Air Force and so she moved a lot as a child. Some places she hardly remembered but she always felt safest at her grandmother’s house in Alton, Illinois, where she played with numerous cousins from the Mather extended family.

She graduated high school in Fairborn, Ohio, and attended McMurry College in Jacksonville, Read More

MARJORIE ARLENE BEACH MCINROY Nov. 2, 1931 – Jan. 7, 2023

Marjorie (Marge) McInroy, 91, of Rio Rancho, NM, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on the morning of January 7, 2023.

Marge was born on November 2, 1931, to Floyd and Bertha (Louise) Beach in Mansfield, PA. She was the youngest of their three children, following brother Earl and sister Marie.

On September 5, 1953, she married the love of her life, Jim McInroy. Their marriage of 69 years served as an example of love and commitment. Over the years their love grew as did their family. They welcomed five children, Barbara, Robert, Read More

JOHN BARADA RAMSAY 1929 – Dec. 29, 2022

John Barada Ramsay (93) passed away at his home Dec. 29, 2022, one day after his 93rd birthday.

He was born in 1929 in Phoenix, Arizona to John Arthur and Helen Grace (Hernan) Ramsay. At a young age, he moved to El Paso, Texas to live with his Aunt Laura and Uncle John (Jack) Barada.

After graduation, he enrolled at Texas Western College (University of Texas El Paso today) where he found his groove in academia and really began to flourish. He graduated from Texas Western College in 1950 with a BS in Mining. He then pursued and received his Ph.D. (1954) in Analytical Read More

MARJORIE DELORES GALLIMORE Dec. 19, 1931 – Dec. 11, 2022

Marjorie Delores Gallimore, age 90, dedicated mother, friend and loved by all, was called home to her eternal resting place Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022.

Marjorie entered this world Dec. 19, 1931, in Middlesex, NJ. There she grew up and graduated from Bound Brook High School.

Over the years Marjorie loved working for Pan Am World Services, NASA and the Department of Energy while living in Melbourne, Florida, Las Vegas, NV and Los Alamos, NM.

She and her husband John Gallimore enjoyed their retirement years living in Angel Fire and then Albuquerque Read More

BEVERLY ANN MARKHAM Jan. 22, 1959 – Jan. 4, 2023

Beverly Ann Markham Warner, 63, of Chimayo, New Mexico, joined the Lord on January 4, 2023 in Los Alamos, New Mexico. 

Beverly was born in Manchester, Connecticut to Jack and Catherine Markham on January 22, 1959. Beverly moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico in the mid-1960s where she grew up and attended elementary, junior high and high school. Beverly graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1977.

Beverly is proceeded in death by her husband Sam Warner and father Jack Markham Sr. Beverly married her best, best friend Sam in 2004. Beverly Read More