Bill Long

Bill Long, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather and a longtime resident of Santa Fe and Los Alamos, passed away at the age of 90 with his family at his side on September 30, 2021.

William (Bill) Donald Long was born on May 21, 1931 to Herbert and Dorothy Long in Jordanville, New York.  After his high school graduation, his father asked him to come to Los Alamos, New Mexico to join the IBEW union in which his father was a general foreman. He joined the union in 1949 but decided to enlist in the Navy later that year.  He fought in the Korean War and was in active duty for three years. He later returned to Los Alamos after his time in the service to work at the Los Alamos National Laboratory for Zia Company as an electrical journeyman. It was there he met his first wife, Cordelia.  They married, had two children, Steven and Debra and remained married for 33 years until her death in 1989.   He worked for Zia Company for 26 years then joined the laboratory to become an electrical inspector.  He was a critical part of the installation of the CRAY computer system in the LDCC building which was one of the most powerful computers in the world.  He worked for the laboratory for 21 years until retirement.  He later joined Bridges and Paxton engineering firm for which he worked for 5 years. 

Bill was a lifelong hunter, hunting and fishing at a young age with his father. He also enjoyed many days hunting with his son and friends Lynn and Bill Gregory.  His favorite was elk hunting on eleven-day hunts in the Cruces Basin in northern New Mexico. He loved the outdoors. He loved looking outside of his hospital bed at home to see the deer, bears, and squirrels. 

Bill was an honorary alumnus of St. Michael’s High School. He spent many hours working at the school. He worked many days on the football field installing the score board.  He also called bingo on Monday nights, was the statistician for coaches Shelley, McCarthy, and Rodriguez.  He was active until his son’s graduation in 1974. 

Bill met his second wife Gloria in 1989 and they married in 1990. They traveled the country in his diesel pusher which he loved.  They continued to travel until he said it was time to “hang it up” because he was too old to work on it.  Bill and Gloria were married for 31 years. He helped raise his step-daughter, Monique and was very close to her children, Joshua and Sydney.   

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Cordelia, his father (Herbert Long) and mother (Dorothy Bassler), sister Yvonne (Tweet), and brother Roger (Darlene).  He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Gloria Long, son Steven Long (Judy), daughter Debra Putnam (Michael), and step-daughter Monique Isaacks (Scott).  Brother Robert Long (Linda) and sister Margie Heatherton (Ray).  He was also a father figure to his two youngest brother-in-laws, Manuel Felix Lujan (deceased) and Tobias Lujan who he helped raise after the death of their father.  He also was the proud grandfather of Erin Gomez (Michael), Stephanie Schnizlein (David), Brandon Putnam (Jennie), Evan Long (girlfriend Monica), Brianna Putnam (fiancé David), Joshua Isaacks, Sydney Isaacks, and four great grandchildren, Orion, Mila, Odin, and Carter.  He is also very proud of all his nephews and nieces who are too numerous to mention. 

The family would also like to give their heartfelt thanks to the following: Egis (Mario and Staff), AmberCare (Emily and Alaina), Giving Home Health Care (Analissa and Staff, Ximena, Billy, Les and others), Los Alamos Medical Center (Julie Medina), and Rivera Family Funeral Home.

There will be a celebration of life at Crossroads Bible Church at 97 East Road, Los Alamos, NM on Friday, October 15, 2021 at 10:30 am with a reception to follow. Burial will be November 3 at 9:45 am at the National Cemetery.  Following the burial there will be a reception at Santa Maria De La Paz Catholic Community at 11 College Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico.