Obituaries

LISA S. BALAGNA July 29, 1950–Nov. 9, 2013

Lisa S. Balagna, born July 29, 1950, the daughter of John and Jean Balagna, died quietly in her sleep last weekend following a brief illness. She spent the last 40 years of her life nearby to her parents in the El Mirador residence in the beautiful Espanola Valley.

Lisa is survived by her father, John; sister Rene Balagna; and her aunt, Margaret Bower; and by many loving and caring friends.

Services will be this Thursday, Nov. 14, at Fuller Lodge in Los Alamos. There will be a public viewing from 12-1 p.m.; a short memorial service at 1 p.m., followed by burial Read More

JOHN DENDAHL Sept. 28, 1938–Nov. 9, 2013

Former New Mexico Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl, 75, died Saturday. He was undergoing treatment for leukemia.

Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman John Billingsley issued the following statement in regard to the passing of Dendahl who also was a former chairman of the RPNM:

“The officers and staff at RPNM join me in expressing our deepest condolences to the family and friends of John Dendahl. They will be in our thoughts and prayers, as we honor his memory. As a longtime fighter for Republican principles, there is no doubt Read More

CARLOTTA REED MCINTEER Aug. 27, 1926–Sept. 24, 2013

Carlotta Reed McInteer died Sept. 24, 2013, from lung cancer, at age 87.

She is loved and missed.

Born in Pittsburgh Aug. 27, 1926, to Carl and Helen Reed, she spent her first seven years in Sao Paolo, Brazil, in a convent for girls. She returned to the U.S. with her mother, moving often from city to city and school to school. In 1943, she attended Connecticut College for Women, where she met David Fox Woods. They married and moved to Ithaca, New York where she worked while David obtained a doctorate. In 1953 they moved to Los Alamos with their first child, Read More

FIDEL LEE GUTIERREZ Nov. 3, 1962–Nov. 3, 2013

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ROBERT FRANCIS FORD Nov. 2, 2013

Robert Francis Ford, 78, of Rio Verde, Ariz., died Nov. 2, 2013. A former Santa Fe, N.M. resident, Bob was born and grew up in Weymouth, Mass.

Fresh out of high school he joined the Navy and served in the Korean Conflict as an electronics technician (Petty Officer First Class) on the USS Lake Champlain and was decorated with various citations and commendations for bravery and valor.

Bob returned to Boston and completed his undergraduate, Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Electrical Engineering at Northeastern University. While there he excelled in football and Read More

ANDREW EDWARD LONG Nov. 17, 1924–Sept. 23, 2013

Andrew Edward Long was born Nov. 17, 1924 in Bartlesville, Okla., to Wesley Brooks Long and Annis Marie Henderson.

He passed away Monday, Sept. 23, 2013 at the Veterans Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Bonnie J. Scott Long; his son, Timothy E. Long of Santa Fe; and his daughter, Andra J. Long Riordan of Albuquerque; four grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Andy served in the U.S. Merchant Marines during WWII. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and, like most Oklahomans of the time, put food on the Read More

CELIA G. OLIVAS May 10, 1930–Oct. 14, 2013

Celia G. Olivas was born in Durango, Colo., and grew up in Henderson, Nev., where she graduated from Basic High School. Her first job was a secretary to a lawyer.

Celia met Ray Olivas in San Luis, Colo., and they married in 1951. They moved to Colorado Springs and lived there until Ray finished his service in the army. They then returned to Henderson and started a family, having three children Vicki, Rick, and Theresa. Shortly after Theresa was born the family moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico.

In 1962, Celia began her long career driving a school bus for Los Alamos Read More

PAUL TERP Oct. 1, 2013

Paul Terp, a resident of Los Alamos, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013. Paul was preceded in death by his mom and dad, Eunice Madeline (Vanderleest) and Leslie Iver Terp, and his brother Ronald Terp. He leaves behind his wife, Susan (Duffy) and five terrific kids; Krissy Jonas, Stacy Jean Brittelle (Micah), Jacqueline Marie Love (Alastair), Katlyn Rose and Ronald James. He also leaves behind six grand-children that he adored; Haiden and Ella Brittelle; Ethan and Bryce Love; Gryffin and Phoenix Jonas.

He has left behind a void in his grieving family and friends Read More

WILLIAM STRATTON May 15, 1922–Oct. 3, 2013

William (Bill) Robert Stratton, 91, of Los Alamos, NM, passed away on Oct. 3, 2013. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Beverly Stratton, three daughters, Nancy Stratton (Gary Echert), Gail Stratton (Pat Miller), Sheila Capute (Dave Capute), a nephew who was like a son, Fred Lundquist, and five grandsons, Joshua & Brendan Capute, William Miller, and Matthew & Michael Echert. He was a loving husband, father and friend of many and known for his sharp intellect & wide-ranging interests as well as his kindness.

Bill was born in River Falls, Read More

WILBUR BROWN July 6, 1932–Sept. 17, 2013

Wilbur Knight Brown of Durango died from pneumonia Tuesday, September 17, 2013, at Mercy Regional Medical Center in Durango. He was 81.

Dr. Brown was born July 6, 1932 in Oakland, Calif., to Herbert and Donna Brown. He grew up in Piedmont, Calif., and graduated from Piedmont High School.  

Known to family and friends as Bill, he attended the University of California at Berkeley, and obtained a doctoral degree in nuclear engineering. While at Berkeley, Bill was involved in the NROTC program and subsequently served in the U.S. Navy, obtaining the rank Read More