Obituaries

Ryan Steward, 25, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 15, 2012. He was born in Bakersfield, California on Dec. 11, 1987. He is survived by his mother and father, Carole and Tom Steward, and his brothers Andrew and Daniel. He lived in California until 1996 when he moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico with his family.

Ryan graduated from Los Alamos High School in 2006. Ryan played many sports that satisfied his competitive spirit, including rugby, basketball, soccer, baseball, hockey, golf, snowboarding, and mud volleyball, where he was known as “pudgy digits.” His friends all knew him as Read More

Gordon Joseph Hoffman, 82, died Monday, Dec. 3, in Albuquerque, NM. He was born, the second twin, June 6, 1930, to Bruno A. Hoffman and Anna Angeline (Karels) Hoffman.

Gordy spent his early life on the family farm in Rosen, MN. At age 13, as a freshman, he entered Nazareth Hall Minor Seminary in the Twin Cities, and following graduation from Naz Hall, attended the St. Paul Seminary. After completing eight years of college and post-graduate education, he was ordained to the Roman Catholic Priesthood in June 1956.

He served eight years at St. Francis de Sales German National parish in the West 7^th Street Read More

Claudia Ann Weber, 62, passed away on Dec. 2, 2012 in Los Alamos, New Mexico after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Ronald Paul Weber; her children Brian Michael Weber (Terri) of Las Cruces, NM, Gina Marie Fisk (Mike) of Los Alamos, NM, and Paul Matthew Weber of Santa Fe, NM; grandchildren Benjamin Joseph and Zachary Paul Weber of Las Cruces, NM and Emma Elizabeth, Ethan Michael, and Eila Kathleen Fisk of Los Alamos, NM; siblings Courtney Michael Harms (Stefanie) of Clayton, Calif., and Monte Ray Harms (Rose), Irwin Todd Harms (Debbie), Tammy Jean Read More

Nikolas Rian Ventura-Arencon, 14, is survived by his parents; Jennifer Ventura-Trujillo and Diego Arencon. Step-parents; Vicente Trujillo and Lupe Arencon ; siblings: Adrianna Gatt , Michael Trujillo, Santino Arencon (13), Loliana Arencon, Diego Arencon Jr., Grandparents: Jeanne and David Buck, Ray and Sharon Ventura and Jose and Elizabeth Arencon: Great Grandparents: Jennie Carpenter, Jane Ventura and Phillip and Lucille Sterling; Aunts and Uncles: Rianne and Bernie Herrera, Monica Arencon-Smith and Terrance Smith, and Melanie and Niles Bartram. He was an incredibly loving uncle Read More

June Henry Loar, 86, of Amarillo, died Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. Interment will be in Oklahoma at the family plot. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors, 2800 Paramount Blvd.

June was born Oct. 2, 1926, in Scotland, Arkansas to Philip and Molly Henry. She was a member of the Coulter Road Baptist Church and loved her Sunday school class.  

She taught Sunday school at Frink Baptist Church in McAlester, Oklahoma and at the United Methodist Church in Anthony, New Mexico. 

She volunteered for many activities. She taught in the school systems in Anthony, Tularosa and Los Alamos, Read More

ROBERT E. SHAFER June 2, 1936–Nov. 11, 2012

Robert E. Shafer died suddenly at his home Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012.  Born in Berkeley, Calif., June 2, 1936, he was 76 years old. 

He is survived by his wife Ann Shafer, his sister Gretchen Simpkins, and his beloved Scottish terrier Rosie. He was preceded in death by his brother Paul and by his parents Margaret Shafer and Eugene Shafer.

Robert Shafer was a recognized expert in beam instrumentation for charged-particle accelerators. He is best known for his world-class expertise on Beam Position Monitors.  

Following undergraduate study Read More

Charles (Don) Reese, 71, of Austin, TX, formerly of Los Alamos, N.M., passed away suddenly Nov. 2, 2012.

Don was born Oct. 3, 1941 in Camden, AR. His family moved to White Rock in 1957 and Don graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1958.

He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps prior to hiring on at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Don retired from LANL after 42 years as an engineering tech. 

Don was preceded in death by his father, William Reese and brother, Kenneth Reese. Don is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Eric and Stephanie Reese; his daughter and son-in-law, Melissa Read More

Henry John Kavanaugh, Jr. (Hammer), 55, rode away on Nov. 4, 2012. A lifelong resident of Santa Fe, he was the oldest of five sons, born in Los Alamos Dec. 12, 1956, to Isabel and the late Henry J. Kavanaugh, Sr.

Henry attended Santa Fe High School and became a heating, ventilation and air conditioning expert. Known as the “Doc”, he could fix anything. An avid biker, he had two Harleys and took many cross-country road trips. He enjoyed working on his house and in his yard, but valued and loved his family above all else. He had a nickname for everyone and made the best hash browns. His beautiful smile, sense Read More