Ben
Ben Ortiz
d. July 18, 2015
Ben Ortiz, 77, of Nambé, passed away in his home following a lengthy illness on Saturday, July 18, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Santa Fe on October 5th, 1937 to José Manuel Ortiz and Josefita Sandoval Ortiz of Nambé. Ben was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Gloria Ortiz, María Longacre, Loretta Ortiz; niece Carrie Lupenski; parents-in-law, Joe I. and Bernice Maestas; brother-in-law Walter Maestas; and grandson Keith Medina. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Patsy; his children Marco Ortiz and wife, Lynnea; Marla Gabaldón and husband, Damian; Benjamin Ortiz Jr. and wife, Nicole; Marquita Ortiz and husband, Cory Brown; granddaughters Gabriela and Dominique Gabaldón, and Ashley Hewitt; grandsons Daine Medina and Nicolas Lujan; brother John Ortiz and wife, Mary Ellen; sister Lydia Fresquez and husband, Pete; in-laws Elmer Longacre; Elmer Maestas and wife, Eliza; Lito Maestas; Marlene Maestas; uncle Merced Sandoval; and aunt Juanita Misere; and many beloved nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.
Ben attended Santa Fe and Pojoaque high schools, remaining a loyal fan of both the Elks and Demons. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963. Ben was employed by LANL as a Mechanical Technician. Following his 1989 retirement, Ben founded the Los Alamos Project on Worker Safety. He became a tireless advocate who helped lead a grassroots community organizing effort which led to the establishment of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. He had a determined strength that helped to shape his tenacity in the struggle for social justice that has, and will continue to, benefit many northern New Mexicans.
Ben was deeply rooted in his Nambé/Santa Fe homeland, maintaining lifelong ties to both communities. Although he acquired technical skills that enabled him to obtain a good job to support his family, his humble beginnings of tending livestock and growing food with his family helped to cultivate his modest character. His extensive agrarian, industrial, and land-based knowledge is greatly admired by his family. Ben was a smart man who preferred a simple life. He was a social person who would easily strike up a conversation with a friend or perfect stranger over a cup of cafecito. Ben loved the outdoors, his classic automobiles, sports, cruising through northern New Mexico communities, and eating good homemade food. He was truly a jack-of-all-trades, building anything and everything with his hands.
Ben displayed a loving dedication to his family as a hardworking, humble, generous, creative, protective, and caring individual who taught his children the value of honesty and integrity. He had a quiet yet strong-willed presence with a gentle wisdom that will carry on through his memory.
Memorial services will take place at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nambé on Thursday, July 23, 2015. Public visitation will begin at 9:45 am, Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 am. Burial procession and meal to follow. Serving the family as pallbearers are nephews Robert, Bart, and Johnny Ortiz; Phillip and Kenneth Fresquez; Roger and Ian Longacre; and honorary pallbearers are sons-in-law Damian Gabaldón and Cory Brown. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Energy Employees Claimant Assistant Project at http://www.eecap.org/. The family of Ben Ortiz has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.
Ben attended Santa Fe and Pojoaque high schools, remaining a loyal fan of both the Elks and Demons. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from 1961-1963. Ben was employed by LANL as a Mechanical Technician. Following his 1989 retirement, Ben founded the Los Alamos Project on Worker Safety. He became a tireless advocate who helped lead a grassroots community organizing effort which led to the establishment of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act. He had a determined strength that helped to shape his tenacity in the struggle for social justice that has, and will continue to, benefit many northern New Mexicans.
Ben was deeply rooted in his Nambé/Santa Fe homeland, maintaining lifelong ties to both communities. Although he acquired technical skills that enabled him to obtain a good job to support his family, his humble beginnings of tending livestock and growing food with his family helped to cultivate his modest character. His extensive agrarian, industrial, and land-based knowledge is greatly admired by his family. Ben was a smart man who preferred a simple life. He was a social person who would easily strike up a conversation with a friend or perfect stranger over a cup of cafecito. Ben loved the outdoors, his classic automobiles, sports, cruising through northern New Mexico communities, and eating good homemade food. He was truly a jack-of-all-trades, building anything and everything with his hands.
Ben displayed a loving dedication to his family as a hardworking, humble, generous, creative, protective, and caring individual who taught his children the value of honesty and integrity. He had a quiet yet strong-willed presence with a gentle wisdom that will carry on through his memory.
Memorial services will take place at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nambé on Thursday, July 23, 2015. Public visitation will begin at 9:45 am, Funeral Mass will take place at 11:00 am. Burial procession and meal to follow. Serving the family as pallbearers are nephews Robert, Bart, and Johnny Ortiz; Phillip and Kenneth Fresquez; Roger and Ian Longacre; and honorary pallbearers are sons-in-law Damian Gabaldón and Cory Brown. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Energy Employees Claimant Assistant Project at http://www.eecap.org/. The family of Ben Ortiz has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.
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