Obituaries

GINO LUCCO Nov. 29, 1927 – Nov. 1, 2018

Gino Lucco was born Luigino Secondo  Francisco Giuseppe Lucco in Turin, Italy. Surrounded by family, he peacefully passed away in Los Alamos, NM on Thursday November 1, 2018, All Saints Day. He lived a full and rich life of more than 90 years.

Nestled in the foothills of the Italian Alps, Gino was born to parents Vittorio and Rosina Lucco, an Italian family from the Piemonte region of Northern Italy. While born in Piemonte, his family lineage dates back generations to the cape wearing Lucco’s, a noble family from the sovereign Read More

BRONWYN GORDON Dec. 6, 1943 – Oct. 31, 2018

On October 31, 2018, Bronwyn Gordon, audacious and generous nana of three grandsons and loyal friend to those she loved, died peacefully in her daughter’s home at the age of 74.

Bronwyn — known to most friends by the nickname “B”— was born on December 6, 1943 to Muriel and A. Powell Davies and received her degree in English literature with a creative writing emphasis in 1991, graduating summa cum laude from Dominican College of San Rafael, California. “B” worked in education for approximately thirty years and was known as a diligent and creative instructor Read More

CHARLES E. HANNAFORD Oct. 26, 2018

Charles E. Hannaford, 91, died peacefully on October 26, 2018, surrounded by his family. 

Charles was born in White Hall, Illinois and joined the U.S. Navy, with his parent’s permission, before he was 18. He served on the USS Barnes Aircraft Carrier, Asiatic Pacific Campaign. He served honorably until discharged after the war. 

He attended Shurtleff College in Alton, Illinois where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. After college he worked for Olin Matheson Corporation in the research and development division working with explosives. Read More

ANDREW JARRARD DRAKE July 3, 1959 – Oct. 15, 2018

Andrew Jarrard Drake (Drew), who was disabled during the last 5 years of his life, died following a fatal fall in his Albuquerque apartment. He was 59.

He was born in Marengo, Iowa at 11:50pm on July 3, 1959. The 10 minutes short of the 4^th of July didn’t prevent him from being a firecracker. He was the son of Joy Jarrard Drake and Duane Holmes of Drake, MD. He is survived by his mother, his sister Jill Rice and husband Scot Rice, stepfather Alfred Zeltmann, stepsisters Ann Zeltmann, Carol Hengstenberg and husband Bob, Stepbrother Tom Zeltmann and wife Read More

BRUCE GAVETT Sept. 3, 1927 – Oct. 10, 2018

Bruce Gavett, born September 3, 1927, died peacefully surrounded by loved ones on October 10th, 2018.

To say that Bruce lived life “full up” would be an understatement. He was born in New York City and joined the USMC before he was 18 with his parents’ permission.  He served honorably until discharged in 1945. After the war he went to work in mines and oilfields all over the west from Texas to Idaho to Washington. His stories from the mines and oilfields were endless and always very entertaining.

Bruce moved to Vermont and was for many years the General Read More

ARNOLD JOHN SIERK Nov. 10, 1946 – Oct. 11, 2018

Arnold John Sierk passed away Friday, October 12th at the age of 71 from complications of treatment for lymphoma.

Arnie was born November 10, 1946 in Batavia, NY, the third child of Dorothy Wild and Norman Lindsey Sierk. He grew up on a dairy farm in Darien Center, which gave him a foundation of a strong work ethic and self-discipline that he carried throughout his life.

He went to college at Cornell University, graduating in 1968, and then received a PhD in Physics from California Institute of Technology in 1972. It was at Cornell in freshman English class Read More

MARK BRIMHALL WELLS Oct. 7, 2018

Mark Brimhall Wells, long-time resident of Los Alamos, passed away October 7, 2018.

He spent his career as a mathematician and computer scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (1951-1980; appointed Group Leader of Computer Science Research in 1968), and as Department Head of the Computer Science Department at New Mexico State University (1980-1989).

Mark’s passions included skiing, gardening, hiking, camping, chess, basketball, tennis, sailing, and the outdoors.

He was instrumental in the development of the Los Alamos Read More

PAUL EUGENE HARPER Nov. 6, 1923 – Oct. 1, 2018

Paul was born November 6, 1923, in Garvin, OK to Wheeler and Bertha Harper as the seventh of ten children. He passed away peacefully on October 1, 2018 at the age of 94 in Albuquerque, NM. 

Paul grew up during the Great Depression, spending most of his time working on the family farm and helping to take care of his three younger siblings. Despite those responsibilities, he managed to excel in all of his school-related activities. In high school, he graduated at the top of his class and was a multiyear all-state basketball player.

Paul was drafted soon Read More

ROY NEIL ‘HOPPY’ HOPWOOD Feb. 3, 1931 – Sept. 20, 2018

Roy Neil Hopwood of Los Alamos passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on the morning of September 20, 2018 following a 10-month battle with cancer. He was 87 years old. 

Roy was born in Fayette, Alabama and spent his childhood in Amory, Mississippi and Florence, Alabama.  He graduated high school in 1949 and moved to Los Alamos at age 18, living with his sister and brother-in-law in Los Alamos while working on his electrical apprenticeship.

In 1951, Roy was drafted into the Army’s First Armored Division, trained Read More

ROBERT (BOBBY) L. FUECHSEL Sept. 16, 2018

Robert (Bobby) L. Fuechsel, 53, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away unexpectedly at home on Sunday, September 16, 2018.

He was preceded in death by his father, Richard Lee Fuechsel; paternal grandparents, Lamar and Louise Howell; father and mother-in-law, David and Lydia Hervey; and brother-in-law, David Hervey Jr.

Robert was employed by Los Alamos National Laboratory and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers-Local 1579 in Augusta, GA.

He is survived by his wife, Penelope (Penny) Fuechsel of Los Alamos; son, Christopher Read More

ANTHONY (DAVID) MONTOYA Sept. 13, 2018

Anthony (David) Montoya passed away in Surprise, Arizona on September 13, 2018.

David was born in Embudo, NM, and graduated from Espanola High School in 1962. He joined the United States Army after high school. After completing his military service, he went to work for Pacific Telephone until his retirement.

He married the love of his life, Judy Espinoza, on August 23, 1965. The two spent 53 loving years together and raised 3 beautiful children.

David was preceded in death by his father Leo Montoya and mother Ernestine Montoya.

David is survived by his wife Read More

THELMA DOMINGUEZ SEGURA Oct. 10, 1919 – Sept. 11, 2018

Thelma D. Segura died peacefully on September 11, 2018 at the age of 98 years in Albuquerque surrounded by her loving family.

Thelma was born on October 10, 1919 in Clayton, New Mexico. She is preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Neno Segura and son Thomas and Dora Segura. 

Thelma is survived by her children Samia and Jerry Davis, Floyd and Stephanie Segura, Neno and Victoria Segura, Nina and Ken Gallegos, Ginny Loucks, and Michael Segura.

Thelma is survived by her 13 grandchildren: Anthony and Cynthia Segura, Neno and Brenda Segura, Read More

EDGAR B. STEIN Sept. 12, 1922 – July 6, 2018

Deuce. Advantage. Game.

Edgar B. Stein finished his last table tennis match on July 6, 2018 in Weatherford, TX where he was close to his youngest daughter, Karen, and her husband Rick Brown. He was 95. He is also survived by his son, Erik, and wife Michelle, of Gaithersburg, Maryland, five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Dad was born in Murphysboro, IL on September 12, 1922 and grew up in Champaign-Urbana. In 7th grade, he started playing the tuba, later the sousaphone in high school where he earned a scholarship to Read More

MARY ANN KOSTY Dec. 26, 1934 – Sept. 1, 2018

Mary Ann Kosty has passed from this world to the outstretched arms of Our Lord Jesus and Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, after a long battle with cancer. She died at home while under the loving care of her children and friends from Heartland Hospice along with friend, Tanya McGuire.

Mary Ann was a 1951 graduate of Hayden High School in Topeka, Kansas then immediately followed her passion for becoming a nurse by attending St. Francis Nursing School, also in Topeka, Kansas. She became a Registered Nurse in 1954 and continued her career for more than 40 years.

In Read More

JOHN LEWIS RICHTER July 26, 1933 – Aug. 21, 2018

John Lewis Richter, age 85, passed away suddenly at home in Albuquerque, NM on August 21, 2018. John, the son of Herbert and Anna Sutton Richter, was born in July 26, 1933 in Laredo, TX.

John attended the University of Texas at Austin obtaining his undergraduate degree in 1954, graduate degree in 1956 and PhD in 1958, all in physics. In 1958, John married Mary Ann Ward, and they had two boys, Donald Andrew and Alan Ward. John and Mary Ann divorced in 1984. John remarried in 1995 to Dixie Hanks.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Donald Herbert Read More

JERRY DAVID WILLIAMS Oct. 9, 1937 – Aug. 31, 2018

Jerry David Williams, age 80, born to Loren and Ruth Williams on October 9, 1937 in Neosho, MO, passed away peacefully at home on Friday August 31, 2018. 

After leaving Neosho and moving several times, his family settled down in Nashville where he grew up playing the piano and enjoying an active church life. 

Jerry graduated from Vanderbilt University and during college met his wife, Lucretia (Lou) Matlock, while working a summer job at Glorieta Baptist Convention Center near Santa Fe, NM. He graduated from the University of Tennessee Read More

LOIS LENORA STRAIT May 10,1933 – Sept. 1, 2018

Lois Lenora Strait’s family is saddened to announce her peaceful passing on September 1, 2018 in Broomfield, Colorado at the age of 85.

She was predeceased by her loving husband Bobby Strait, her parents Alex Hignite and Iva Hignite, and her brother Paul Hignite.

Lois was born in Stilwell, Oklahoma on May 10,1933. She married Bobby Strait December 22, 1951. Lois was a devoted mother of Rebecca Hackenberry (Stephen), and Connie Linthicum (Jeff).

After the Air Force and school, they made Los Alamos, NM their home. Lois could make anything grow and bloom. Read More

MARGARET CHAVEZ March 12, 1929 – Aug. 28, 2018

Our beloved matriarch Margaret Antia Chavez, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend, passed away at her home on Tuesday morning, August 28, 2018 at the age of 89. She was fortunate to spend her final days surrounded by those who loved her.

Margaret was preceded in death by her parents Alfonso and Ellen Geoffrion of Las Vegas, N.M.; mother-in-law Susan Chavez also of Las Vegas; brothers Billy and Sonny Geoffrion; brothers-in-law Mariano and Adolfo ‘Babe’ Chavez; sisters-in-law Carmen, Gloria and Emma; best friend Andrea Kellovich; Read More

THOMAS J. NOVAK Dec. 27, 1934 – Aug. 7, 2018

Thomas J. (Tom) Novak, 83, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2018 at the family home. He spent his last day surrounded by family, humoring everyone with his quick wit and being in command (giving orders) while appreciating the things he loved about his home: the sunset view from the deck, the hummingbirds, and his loyal companion shihtzu, Gigi. Tom was born the youngest of 10 children in Nashville, Illinois on December 27, 1934 to Walter and Rose (Piecnik) Novak. 

He is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Martha (Marty) L. Novak Read More

HELEN ARAGON VALENCIA March 20, 1941 – Aug. 27, 2018

Helen Aragon Valencia of Espanola passed away surrounded by her family on the morning of August 27, 2018 following a strong seven months living with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She was 77 years old.

Born in Corral De Piedra, Española to Solomon and Anita Aragon on March 20, 1941 she was a integral and beloved part of her family and community.

She was preceded in death by her father Solomon Aragon, her mother Anita Aragon, her sister Lucille Perez, her sister Eva Aragon, and her brother Lorenzo Aragon.

She is survived by her sister and brother-in-law Read More

PAUL H. MARTINEZ April 8, 1949 – Aug. 20, 2018

Paul H. Martinez, 69, a resident of Upper San Pedro, was called to his Eternal Home on Monday, August 20, 2018.  

Paul was preceded in death by his baby daughter Lori, parents Juan E. and Anita M. Martinez, in-laws Benceslado and Trinidad Lopez, and sister and brother-in-law Susie and Sixto Martinez.

Paul is survived by “his Honey” of 47 years Yvonne, daughters Elizabeth and fiancé Robert Griego and Camille and husband Waylon Maestas and cherished grandchildren Christopher and Michael Maestas.

Paul is also survived by his siblings Roger, David, Read More

CHARLES LAVERN MADER Aug. 8, 1930 – Aug. 18, 2018

Charles Lavern Mader, of Honolulu, Hawaii, died on Aug. 18, 2018 at the age of 88.

He was born August 8, 1930 in Dewey, Oklahoma and had one brother, George Mader, Jr who died in 2002. He married Emma Jean Sinclair June 12, 1960 and they had one son, Charles L. Mader, II. He attended Oklahoma City University, Oklahoma A and M College and University of Kansas.

He became a staff member of the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory in 1955 where he worked until his retirement in 1986. He Consulted at the laboratory until 2005. He was a Fellow of the American Read More

TERRY DEWAYNE LANGHAM Sept. 20, 1937 – June 7, 2018

Terry Dewayne Langham was born on September 20, 1937 in Frederick, Oklahoma to Lela Mary and Marvin Wesley Langham. On June 7, 2018, he passed away peacefully at his Los Alamos home into the arms of his savior with his wife, Clarice, by his side. Terry was 80-years-old.

As a child, Terry spent time in Frederick, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Brownwood, Texas. In 1949, at the age of twelve, he moved with his parents and little brother, Taylor, to Los Alamos, New Mexico when it was still a closed city. From that time on, Terry made Los Alamos his Read More

ROBERT CHARLES CROOK March 1, 1925 – Aug. 17, 2018

Robert Charles Crook, 93, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 17, 2018 surrounded by his loving family.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Ilah Crook; parents, Tom and Ila Crook; brother, Tom Crook and sister, Marie Peckham.

Robert was born on March 1, 1925 in Marland, Oklahoma on the 101 Ranch. His family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1934. He served in the United States Army Air Corps and was a P-51D Mustang Pilot during WWII.

Robert was an avid photographer, gardener, horseman, fisherman and lover of rodeo, dancing and country music. Read More