Obituaries

HAROLD FISHBINE Oct. 5, 1919 – Oct. 6, 2017

Harold Fishbine was born to Beatrice and Max Fishbine on October 5, 1919, in New York City. He passed away in Los Alamos on October 6, 2017.

He was a resident of Los Alamos since 1944. He loved New Mexico, particularly Los Alamos, and all the people he knew here. He was employed by the Los Alamos National Laboratory until his retirement in 1982.

His big interests were his family and music of all kinds, and he played bass in jazz bands and symphonies.

He is survived by Bonnie, his wife of 71 years; two sons, Brian and Glenn; granddaughter, Jenna Fishbine; and many Read More

RUTH J. SHERMAN Jan. 1, 1933  – Oct. 8, 2017

Ruth J. Sherman, a 57-year resident of Los Alamos, died peacefully at her home on October 8, 2017. Daughter of Morris and Bernice Joffe, Ruth was born in Chicago, Illinois on January 1, 1933. After Bernice passed away when Ruth was just seven years old, her father married Beatrice, whom Ruth came to know and love as her second mother.

Ruth was fiercely independent, highly intelligent, and passionate about learning. Although she aspired to be a doctor, she earned her degree in nutrition from Northwestern University. She became the Head Dietitian Read More

CHARLES R. “CHUCK” MANSFIELD July 27, 1938 – Oct. 6, 2017

Charles R. “Chuck” Mansfield was a devoted family man who loved his wife Arlene and his son Dave. Chuck is the son of H. Robert Mansfield and Dorothy Louise (Rice) Mansfield and was born July 27, 1938   in Lewiston, Idaho. He left and joined his maker Oct. 6, 2017.

Chuck was always interested in aviation. In High School he formed an Air Explorer Squadron under the Boy Scouts of America. From 1958 to 1969, he worked as a Siskiyou Smoke Jumper in the summer while attending college. He fought fires for the US Forest Service throughout the Read More

BRANDYN ORTEGA Jan. 14, 1996 – Oct. 2, 2017

Brandyn Ortega, 21, of Los Alamos, NM, died unexpectedly on Monday, October 2, 2017. He will be deeply missed by his parents, Heather and Andrew Ortega; siblings, Taylor Rose, Savannah, Isaac, and Joshua; grandparents; great-grandparents; and extended family and friends near and far.

Brandyn was born in Los Alamos on January 14, 1996, the light of his mother’s life. The consummate jokester, Brandyn loved to make those around him laugh and have fun. He was caring and giving and always good for a hug or a hand. He doted on his mother in big and small ways as Read More

LAURA MARGARET HILL Aug. 19, 1947 – Aug. 27, 2017

Laura Margaret Hill, age 70, passed away peacefully on August 27th, 2017. Laura is survived by her life partner John Brannon, her sister Jamia Hill, her two nephews Don and Andrew and her numerous kitties, which she loved and adored.

Her parents were Boyce and Margaret Hill, and she was born in Los Angeles California on August 10, 1947. Laura preferred her name to be pronounced “Lara” and she shared her kind and beautiful gifts with the various communities in which she lived.

Before Lara graduated from University High School in West Los Angeles in 1965, Read More

VIVIAN E. PEARSON April 10, 1948 – Sept. 20, 2017

Vivian E. Pearson, affectionately known to her family as “Grammy,” was born April 10, 1948 in Chicago, Illinois. She passed away September 20, 2017 at her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Vivian graduated from Glenbard East High School in 1966. After graduation she worked various jobs ranging from hotel clerk, nursery care attendant, and in retail.

The wild beauty of New Mexico reverberated deeply in her own wild spirit when she first moved there in 1971. After a brief return to Illinois, she returned to the Land of Enchantment in 1973 and chose to Read More

CONNIE L. REZAC (HAYDEN) Jan. 26, 1942 – Sept. 19, 2017

Connie L. Rezac (formerly Connie L. Hayden) passed away peacefully on September 19, 2017 in the loving care of Casa de La Luz Hospice in Tucson, AZ.

Connie is survived by her husband John Rezac of Tucson, AZ.; Sister Ruthie Banta (Ken) of Thornton, CO., Son David Hayden (Jennifer) and Daughter Donna Hayden of Los Alamos, NM; Grandchildren Austin Hayden (Dominique), Logan Hayden (Lis), and Haylee Hayden; and Great Granddaughter Piper Hayden.

Connie is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband Jim Hayden, her grandson Isaac Hayden, Read More

RUTH LOMAN Nov. 7, 1930 – Sept. 27, 2017

Ruth Lomon, a frequent summer visitor to Los Alamos and Santa Fe, died at her Cambridge, Massachusetts, home after a long illness on Tuesday. She was 87 and a well-known classical music composer. She is survived by her husband, Earle Lomon, a physicist at MIT, and children and grandchildren.

Her compositions include orchestral, chamber, vocal and solo works as well as multimedia works. She was awarded numerous commissions and grants over the years, including one from the New Mexico Arts Division.

She was the Composer/Resident Scholar at the Women’s Studies Read More