Obituaries

ERIK ARNDT Oct. 29, 1988 – March 24, 2023

A beloved son, brother, uncle, and friend, Erik Arndt, 34 years of age, perished in an auto collision on March 24, 2023.

Erik was born October 29, 1988, in Anaheim, California to Pamela and Max Arndt. He grew up alongside his younger brother, Kurt, in Mission Viejo, California, where they spent most of their childhood.

After graduating from Cal State Fullerton with a Bachelor’s in American Studies, he briefly moved to Phoenix, AZ, then eventually settled in Los Alamos, NM, where he worked at Los Alamos Medical Center.

Among many things, Erik loved science Read More

FREDERICK STANLEY MINSHALL III Aug. 1, 2022

Frederick Stanley Minshall III, 89, passed away at home on August 1, 2022 surrounded by the love of his family. 

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughters Renden (Jeff) Hornung of Florissant, MO and Terrin Lands of Raleigh, NC; grandson Reid Lands of St. Louis, MO; step children Wendy (Joe) Lowe of Loveland, CO, Scott Green of Crested Butte, CO, and Verney (Martha) Green of Golden, CO; grandchildren Nathan Lowe and Miles, Sonya and Collin Green; beloved niece Emily Ranken (David Jaffe) of Pleasanton, CA; beloved nephews Bill (Beverly) Ranken of Read More

JUAN ROBERT BALDONADO Dec. 9, 2022

On Labor Day in 1969 Juan “Rob” Baldonado was born. He entered the world early and spent 16 days being treated for hyaline membrane disease, as it was called then. After his lungs matured and opened and a strange sound in his heart resolved, he needed to stay in the hospital nursery long enough to meet the discharge weight of 5 pounds. He came home to our apartment at 939 Iris Street Apt. 16. An uncanny coincidence as this is now the Los Alamos County building where his burial site was purchased after his unexpected death, at home, December 9, 2022.

This is the beginning Read More

FRANK WILHELM BOBROWICZ  Dec. 12,1943 – April 1, 2023

Frank Wilhelm Bobrowicz, 79, of White Rock, NM, passed away on April 1, 2023, with loved ones by his side, after a difficult but well-fought battle with COPD.

Frank was born on December 12, 1943 to Frank and Theresa in Newark, New Jersey. After Frank graduated from Barringer High School in 1962, he then went on to pursue a degree in computer science at Seton Hall University and attended graduate school at Caltech.

After moving often and working at previous national labs, Frank found his way to Los Alamos National Laboratory where he worked for Read More

PAT SANTANIELLO March 4, 1950 – Aug. 31, 2022

Pat Santaniello was born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1950. He passed away from COVID-19 related pneumonia in August of 2022, following a two year battle with cancer. Pat faced his health issues with remarkable courage and fortitude.

Pat is survived by the love of his life, Lori Santaniello. Pat and Lori met when he moved from Massachusetts to Houston, Texas. They were married on Feb. 6, 1983, and were near to celebrating 40 years of marriage.

Pat worked hard with his hands in the plumbing trade for all of his adult years. He first started as a plumber Read More

FRANKLIN J. NAIVAR Aug. 11 1940 – March 31, 2023

Franklin J. Naivar, a long-time resident of Los Alamos, died peacefully in his sleep March 31, 2023. 

Franklin was born Aug. 11, 1940, to Leo W. and Annie (Svrcek) Naivar, In Taylor, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents Leo W. and Annie Naivar, his wife of almost 56 years, Aloma (Eiben) Naivar, daughter Julianne Marie Naivar, and brother Thomas Naivar.

He was raised on the family farm near Granger, Texas. He was a graduate of St, Mary’s High School. Immediately after graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a reactor operator on the fast Read More

RICHARD V. CARLSON March 16, 2023

Richard V. Carlson passed away on March 16, 2023, from complications from a long battle with Parkinson’s. Dick was born in Kenosha, WI to Vernal and Kathryn.

Dick was a younger brother to Susan and an older brother to Mary. He had fond memories of growing up helping out on his grandparent’s farm. The family moved to Edina, MN and Dick graduated from Edina HS in 1962. He attended Valparaiso for undergraduate work and then went on to study physics at the Illinois Institute of Technology and then earned his PhD in Physics from the University of Minnesota in 1975.  Through Read More

MARK SECUNDINO SANDOVAL July 26, 1961– March 19, 2023

Mark Secundino Sandoval, born July 26, 1961, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, March 19, 2023.

The only child of Secundino and Stella Sandoval, Mark was born in Los Alamos and was a lifelong member of the community. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1979, where he fell in love with golf and found friendships that lasted a lifetime.

He entered New Mexico State University through the Crimson Scholar Program in 1980 and then attended the University Of New Mexico. Mark met his wife, Trish, in 1989 while working at the family restaurant, Read More

CHARLES LEE BUILTA March 17, 2023

It is with immense sadness that the family of Charles “Chuck / Chuckles / Chuckie” Lee Builta announces his unexpected and peaceful passing on March 17, 2023, at the young age of 51. He was surrounded by his family and loved ones until the very end.

Charles was well known for his bright smile, amazing sense of humor, and well – his mohawk of course. Due to his ceaseless compassion and selflessness, he was loved and cherished by countless friends and family. Many people use the saying “he would give you the shirt off of his back”, but not many people knew someone who would Read More

THOMAS FAIRLAMB STRATTON Dec. 19, 1929 – March 21, 2023

Thomas Fairlamb Stratton, a longtime resident of Los Alamos, NM, died March 21, 2023, after a brief illness. Tom was born on December 19, 1929, in Kansas City, MO, to Thomas Albert and Helen Fairlamb Stratton.

Tom left high school before graduating, enrolling instead at a local junior college, and matriculated two years later at Union College in Schenectady NY. He earned a BS in Physics in 1949, then continued his studies at the Physics Department of the University of Minnesota. After successfully defending his PhD thesis in the summer of Read More