Patrick Belardino Roybal

Our family sadly and unexpectedly lost a beloved role model when Patrick Roybal of Cuyamungue and Santa Fe recently passed away on June 17, 2023.  While we come to peace with the void left by him, our lives are richer for having known him and having been loved him. He is preceded in death by in his parents Benjamin & Eloisa Roybal, his sister Shirley Roybal, his brother-in-law Michael Burgoyne, and his niece Jacqueline Perez. He is survived by the love of his life wife Violet Roybal. 

Pat lit up people’s days with his cheery comments, contagious laughter, and by always offering a helping hand.  Pat’s curious nature steered his love of life-long learning and reading, making him a man of many trades and enabled great conversations.     

Pat served in the Peace Corp and the US Navy. He returned to the land of his birth but continued to explore the world by traveling through miles of books.  The GI Bill helped when Pat’s desire to learn when he studied at NNMCC. Working for Ruben Sena was the stepping- stone for Pat’s career in electricity, where he worked for Johnson Control, the State Penitentiary, Del Norte Truck Stop, and for the State of NM.  On one of his electrical endeavors, he met the love of his life, Vi and built a stable and happy home with Vi and her children.   

Competitive by nature, Pat always beat his family in games, possibly because of his skill as a creative player.  His stubborn streak ensured that he never met a puzzle he couldn’t finish, even if it meant trimming and taping pieces to make them fit.  There was nothing Pat couldn’t do, as long as he had enough duct-tape. 

He leaves behind by his wife of 35 years Violet Roybal; children Charles (Lucille) Ortiz, Kenneth (Pam) Romero, Irven (Henrietta) Romero, Bryan (Christina) Romero and Elizabeth Romero-Duran; siblings Angie (Steve) Famularo, Josie Burgoyne,  Mary Helen (Frank) Fierro, and Margaret Roybal (Walter Sondhiem), Freddie (Patricia) Roybal, Michael (Peggy) Montoya and Dora Ortiz (special friend); Godchildren Elliott Sondhiem, Felipe Ruibal, and Camille Duran; 10 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews.   

Pat’s impact will be remembered every time we play games, read a book, do a puzzle, and fix things with duct tape, for the void he has left in our hearts will continue to feel as empty as his chair by the window. 

A Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at 9:00 am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Pojoaque, NM, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 10:00 am.  Burial to follow at 12:30 pm at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Felipe Ruibal, Elliott Sondheim, Camille Duran, Josh Romero, Jarrod Romero, and Mark Romero.   

The family of Patrick Roybal has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.   www.devargasfuneral.com   505-747-7477