Joseph Trujillo

Joseph Amador Trujillo, our patriarch, age 97, peacefully passed away at his home, in his bed, surrounded by his children on Friday, December 10, 2021. Joe leaves a legacy that includes five children, fifteen grandchildren, twenty-seven great-grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. He truly was responsible for building and establishing a family dynasty.

“Macho” was born May 06, 1924 in Moses, New Mexico to Jose De Delores and Eloisa Trujillo. He grew up in nearby Clayton, New Mexico. As a young man, he was involved in boxing and baseball – creating stories he shared with his grandchildren that will last all of our lifetimes. He met and pursued the love of his life, Margaret, in 1945 persuading her to marry him in 1947. They built an amazing life together for the next seventy-four years. They moved to Santa Fe with their young family in the late 1950’s and established a cornerstone on Siringo Road, where holiday yard decorations have become a neighborhood staple.

He coached little league teams for many years. His love of baseball never dwindled. He also sponsored his own family softball team, playing as the pitcher until he moved to coach, creating the tradition of Los Trujillos and purple jerseys that has lasted decades. The team was a strong expression of his family roots with his sons, sons-in-law, nephews, and grandsons on the field and his granddaughters cheering on the sidelines. His deep commitment to competition fostered a vast collection of trophies, one of his favorite things to show off to anyone coming into his home. He loved guiding visitors to his room where trophies line the walls, methodically telling them who won each. His passions evolved into family successes that have included both individual and team sport accolades of city, state and national championships. Grandpa Joe was justly proud of each achievement and each achiever fiercely remains proud to be his grandchild.

Before working for and retiring from New Mexico State Government, Joe worked at the College of Santa Fe. After retirement, he enjoyed working on his yard avidly nursing apricot trees, his lawn and yellow roses. If you drove by, you were likely to see him out with his rake piling up leaves.

He was quite the character. He actually made it a point to let everyone know he enjoyed bowling with a younger crowd since “he didn’t want to be with the old people.” He loved to joke with everyone, never missing an opportunity to do something silly or say something clever that made you smile and laugh. Whether it was a simple handshake turned into a forehead dab or a joke – saying hello and goodbye to him was always an adventure and you were sure to leave feeling better than you did before you saw him.

He was preceded in death this past March by his loving wife, Margaret Trujillo. He seemed ready and eager to join her soon after her death and we take some comfort that his wishes to be reconciled were fulfilled. His children Marcella, Victor and Kathy, Juanita, Antoinette, Michael and his wife Deloisa all continue to love and honor his memory with all his grand, great-grand, and great-great-grandchildren. Joe and Margaret did their work well, establishing a lineage spread across five generations. Each of us will miss his strength, his resolve and most importantly his humor.

We invite you to celebrate his life with us. A Catholic Rosary Prayer will be recited at the Kiva Chapel of Light at Memorial Gardens in Santa Fe on Sunday evening, December 19, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. The Catholic Funeral Mass will be conducted at Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, December 20, 2021. The mass will be live-streamed at: smdlp.org for those unable to attend. A small, private burial will take place at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on January 11, 2022.