Jeff - Age 82 - White Rock - Torrez

Jeff H. Torrez, 82, a resident of White Rock, passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 following complications of a heart attack. Jeff was born on November 20, 1932 in McNary Arizona to Selverio Torrez and Rafalita Hill. In 1950 he joined the US Navy and served aboard the USS IOWA during the Korean Conflict. He remained in the US Navy until 1954. Returning stateside, he attended various trade schools eventually starting his career as an Electronic Technician. In 1956 he began working for the Convair Aircraft Company repairing aircraft radar and electronics. In 1961, he went to work for the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) for 13 years as a field engineer which led to a variety of different assignments throughout the world repairing radar, antennas, computers, and telemetry tracking equipment. During this time, he met Orcina Mota, his wife of 51 years and they were married in Ajo, Arizona. Eventually, Jeff moved to White Rock, to work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1974. While at LANL he started working as a computer technician maintaining the lab’s large scale computers and peripherals. In 1982, Jeff started working with lasers and inertial fusion projects at the lab. He played a major role in the successes of the Antares and C-Lamp projects. He retired from the LANL in 2002.\r\n \r\nJeff was very involved with the youth of White Rock and Los Alamos communities for over 20 years. He coached Little League Baseball, Little League Fast Pitch Softball, and Basketball. Through his coaching, it always brought him joy seeing the growth and improvements made by each individual year after year. In 1990, Jeff organized and started Los Alamos’s first Girls Fast Pitch Softball program helping prepare girls to transition into high school Fast Pitch softball. He was a very active in the Boy Scouts of America, both as a leader and as a Troop Committee member for Troop 71. Jeff was an active member of the community with membership in the Lion’s Club, American Legion, and VFW.\r\n \r\nJeff is survived by his wife, Orcina Torrez; son, Wayne Torrez; daughter, Nicole Torrez; grandson, Jacob Torrez; aunt, Tomasita Chavez; brother, Ralph Torrez; sisters, Natalie Bowden and Jennifer Martin; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jeff will always be remembered as a loving father, husband, and grandfather. He was a person who could always see the good in others, a kind and gentle man. Jeff touched everyone’s lives that he met and he will be greatly missed. A rosary will be recited on Sunday, December 14, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Hall in White Rock. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 15, 2014 at 11: a.m. at the Immaculate Heart of Mary church in Los Alamos, with a burial to follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Reception will be held at Knights of Columbus hall following the mass. The family of Jeff H. Torrez has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.\r\n

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