Roque J. Sanchez

Roque José Sanchez April 28, 1923 – November 22, 2015 Roque José Sanchez, a lifelong resident of Adelino, passed away on November 22nd at the age of 92. He was surrounded by a room of loving family, and passed away peacefully as the sun rose over the Manzano Mountains. Roque was born in 1923, in the village of Adelino, the third child of Adelino and Francesquita (Baca) Sanchez. His family spent much of his childhood in Willard, NM, where his father, the school superintendent, instilled in him a lifelong love of learning and education. He and his siblings would travel back to Adelino on weekends and in the summer to work the family farm along the Adelino bosque. After graduating early from Willard High School in 1939, Roque began his college studies with a year at Eastern New Mexico University and then transferred to New Mexico A&M until his education was interrupted by the start of World War II. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Hood, Texas. Somewhere in all the excitement he met his loving wife, Mary Ann Chavez, in Adelino. They were married at Fort Hood on a whirlwind weekend; over 71 years of marriage she has remained his rock, his friend, and the love of his life. After his discharge from the Army, Roque returned to New Mexico and completed his undergraduate education in agricultural science at New Mexico A&M. He graduated with honors, and returned to his hometown to begin a teaching career that would span 38 years at Los Lunas High School and the UNM Valencia Campus. Over four decades he shared his love of learning with his students and shaped a new generation of farmers through his work with the Future Farmers of America and Veterans on the Farm. All the while, he continued his own education, earning masters degrees in agricultural science and educational administration while he worked. Through years of hard work he forged his own farm in Adelino, as well as the foundation of a growing family. Roque built his own house, and he and Mary Ann filled it with seven beautiful, loving children: Marcella (Nick) Nogar; Eliza Castellano; Matthew (Alice); Debbie; Therese (Robert); Dr. Mark Sanchez, (Janet); and Rose (Dr. Tim) Neuberger. He was loved by fourteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren: Dr. Anna Nogar (Peter Marlantes); Dr. Joshua Nogar (Dr. Andrea Bedrosian); Carmella Nogar; Daniel Castellano; Dr. Jessica Castellano; Michael Castellano, Andrew Castellano; Angelica S. Gonzalez (Tim); Elena S. Barton (B.J), Nicholas Sanchez (Martina); Christopher Sanchez; Roque Tomás Sanchez; Justine Sanchez; Jamie Neuberger; Nico Marlantes; Eva Marlantes; Oliver Barton; and Aislynn Gonzalez. His farm was a passion that he shared with his family. He loved to walk his fields and spend time at his ranch at the base of the Manzano Mountains. Roque always said that, “A day when something wasn’t accomplished was a wasted day,” and as long as he was able to he would take care of his farm and feed his cows. He was preceded in death by his parents Adelino and Francesquita (Baca) Sanchez, brother Jesús C. Sanchez and wife Trina Sanchez, brother Teofilo Sanchez, and sister Theresa McCurdy. He is survived by siblings Rachel Apodaca; Betty Kiefer; Dolores (Hugh) Eberly; Josie (Bill) Burch; Adelino (Carol); Anthony (Patsy); Lawrence; and sister-in-law Lourdes Sanchez. Services will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomé on Wednesday, November 25th, with visitation at 10:00 AM, Rosary at 11:00 AM, and Funeral Mass at 11:30 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made either to the Immaculate Conception building fund or the St. Vincent de Paul Society of Tomé.

Roque J. Sanchez

April 23, 1923 - November 22, 2015