Obituaries

CATHY LORRAINE NOGAR Aug. 21, 2015

Cathy Lorraine Nogar, 91, a resident of La Mesilla, passed away on Friday, August 21, 2015.

A lifelong dog aficionada, Cathy helped found the Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club and was well known in the dog breeding world, as much for her Hopi Kachina Dalmatians as for her work as a respected dog show judge. Cathy loved to be active, first in showing and jumping horses in her native Chicago, and later enjoying the community at East Park Pool and later at the Espanola Valley pool. Her sense of humor and joie de vivre were contagious, and her love of books and reading voracious. Read More

BILLY MAC HOGAN Oct. 1, 1942 – Aug. 15, 2015

It is with great sadness that the family of the late Billy Mac Hogan announces his passing. Bill, 72, died on Saturday, August 15, 2015 in Los Alamos, New Mexico after a short battle with glioblastoma multiforme (brain tumor).

Bill was born October 1, 1942 in Montague County, Texas. Because of his father’s work, Bill moved to several different towns in Texas as a young boy. In 1950, Bill and his family moved to Lubbock, Texas. He graduated from Monterey High School in 1961 and attended Texas Tech University until 1967 when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Read More

ADAM MICHAEL LANG Feb. 6, 1993 – July 22, 2015

Adam Michael Lang passed away on July 22, 2015 in Arcata, CA at the age of 22.

He was born in Albuquerque, NM on February 6th,1993. He moved to Los Alamos in August of 2000. He was an excellent student and graduated from Los Alamos High School in 2011. While attending high school, he participated in LAHS XC and track. Afterwards, he attended UC Davis for 2 ½ years majoring in engineering and then switched to Humboldt State University where he studied botany.

Adam was an avid runner, hiker, skier, gardener, and musician. He embraced nature. He loved the trails Read More

JOAN ALCOUFFE Aug. 16, 2015

Joan Alcouffe, 75, a resident of Los Alamos passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2015.

She was preceded in death by her father, Walter Davenport, and mother, Frances Davenport. She was educated at the University of Idaho from 1958-1962 and was an active member of the KKG sorority. She met her husband of 51 years, Raymond Alcouffe, in Idaho Falls, Idaho in 1963 where she was an elementary school teacher. They married and had five children: Michael, John, Matthew, Douglas, and Cari. She was a devoted wife and mother and enjoyed traveling internationally, writing, and cooking.  Read More

RICHARD “RICK” JAMES SOFALY May 2, 1943 – Aug. 10, 2015

Richard “Rick” James Sofaly, 72, died on Monday, August 10, 2015 at his home in Killeen, Texas surrounded by his loving family. 

Rick was born May 2, 1943 in Detroit, Michigan. He was the only son of Dick and Gloria Sofaly. As a teenager, his family moved to southern California where he attended and graduated from San Diego State College and where he met and married his wife of fifty years, Karla Foight. Together, they had four children whom they raised in Los Alamos, New Mexico. 

Rick enjoyed a successful career in computer technology, Read More

DAVID (DAVE) DVORAK July 21, 2015

David (Dave) Dvorak, beloved husband, father, and brother passed away on July 21, 2015. 

He is survived by his wife Kate, daughter Lorrie, son Ry, and sister Mary Foglesong, and brothers James (Jim) Dvorak and Robert (Bob) Dvorak. He was preceded in death by his father James (Jim) Dvorak, mother Genevieve (Gen) Dvorak, and brother Richard (Rick) Dvorak.

Dave was a man who, in spite of his high level of education, could sit down with anyone and make them feel important. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him throughout the world.

A memorial service will Read More

DONNA MAE FISCHER WILSON Aug.15, 1934 – Aug. 7, 2015

Donna Mae Fischer Wilson died Aug. 7, 2015, just a week shy of her 81st birthday, in Cañon City, Colorado, from complications following a pelvic fracture.

On Aug.15, 1934, her grandmother, Anna Kronschnabel Fischer, delivered Donna into the world at West Spring Street in Appleton, Wisconsin. She was the sixth of nine children born to Frank and Anne Fischer.

Donna attended elementary school at St. Edwards’s at Mackville and St. Joseph’s in Appleton, Wisconsin, and graduated from Appleton High School West in 1952. Donna enlisted in the Read More

Rev. CASIMIRO ROCA-TOSCAS Aug. 4, 2015

Rev. Casimiro Roca-Toscas, S.F., former rector of el Santuario de Chimayo in Chimayo, N.M., died Aug. 4, 2015.

At the time, he was at home in the rectory at Holy Family Church, with his brothers Sons of the Holy Family and caretaker, who have been helping him for several years. He had celebrated his 97th birthday 11 days earlier.

After 33 active years living in Spain and Italy, Fr. Roca came to Chimayo in 1954. For 52 of the next 60 years, he worked at restoring the Shrine, greeting pilgrims and hearing their confessions, blessing their vehicles and religious Read More