Juan Valdez

Juan A. Valdez, of Santa Fe, NM passed away on July 7, 2024. He was born in Santa Fe, NM on November 30, 1950, to Victor Valdez and Charlotte Padilla Valdez. He was a lifetime resident of Santa Fe. Juan will always be remembered for his passion for helping those who were battling alcohol and drug addictions. He used humor to encourage others with his saying, “Juan day at a time.” Juan was diagnosed with cancer in April 2023 but that didn’t stop him from living life to the fullest. Even in his last week, he made his usual trips to the casino where he says he never lost a dollar. The day before his hospitalization, he spent the day giving rides to an ex-client of his to make sure his day was “Juanderful”. Juan had a unique sense of humor and loved telling jokes. He also loved watching his favorite football team, the Raiders.

Juan attended Highlands University where he received a bachelor’s degree in social work. His passion in life was serving others and he was fortunate enough to have worked serving his community for many years. He was employed with many organizations including Copas, La Clinica de la Gente, Santa Fe Public Schools, City of Santa Fe as an assistant city manager under former mayor Sam Pick, and U.S. Congress where he worked for Bill Richardson as a congressional aide. He was most touched and proud of his work at Presbyterian Medical Services where he served on the ACT team helping those with mental health illness. He was passionate about his co-workers and clients at PMS. He also ran “Juan’s Sober House” where he took in those who had recently committed to sobriety to ensure they had the support they needed during their difficult time.

Juan will be deeply missed by his family, friends and community. Juan’s passion was serving others, and he was always a phone call away from anyone who needed assistance. He always told people call 9, Juan, Juan if you need anything at all. He joined the brotherhood of AA on January 1, 1996. He was very proud of his 28 years of sobriety and the changes in his life that came with his sobriety. He committed his life to helping others achieve sobriety. In 2017, he was awarded the 10 who made a difference by the Santa Fe New Mexican where he was recognized for his work in helping recovering alcoholics and addicts. In 2020, he was awarded the Star Award for the Top 20 in Behavioral Health. More importantly, he touched so many people’s lives with his reminder of nothing changes if nothing changes. He knew that sobriety was a journey, and everyone deserved as many chances as it took to achieve sobriety. He never gave up on anyone and encouraged them no matter the circumstances.

His greatest joy in life was spending time with his children and grandchildren, whom he was so very proud of. Even during his illness and undergoing treatment, he made it a point to travel with Anise and Juan Carlos to attend a Raider Game in Las Vegas, Nevada. His grandchildren spent a lot of time with “Grandpa Johnny” and they have countless stories of how spoiled they were by grandpa. Of course, these stories involve the places he took them, the excessive toys he bought them, and of course his “Johnny jokes”. Even recently when he was becoming weak from the chemo treatments, he made daily visits to his granddaughter Sedona bringing toys, having tea parties, carrying her on his back and playing tag.

Juan is preceded in death by father Victor “Tisnado”Valdez, mother Charlotte Padilla Valdez, brothers Joseph “Valquin” Padilla, Bobby Garcia, Eloy Padilla, Abran Padilla, and sisters Vera Harris, Rita Garcia, Mary Helen Valdez, Gina Lujan and husband Juan Lujan, and Toni Rodriguez and husband Manuel Rodriguez. He is also preceded in death by special nephews Jerry Cordova and Juanito Lujan, and special niece Emilia Lujan.

Juan is survived by his ex-wife and lifelong friend, Geraldine Trujillo, children Yvette Sandoval (Danny), Luis Leyba (Tara Mares), Sonya Quintana (Jerry Gonzales), Anise Valdez (Anjala Coughlin), and Juan Carlos Valdez. grandchildren Amber Hopper, Autumn Mendoza, Savannah Solano (Derrick), Jose “Chach” Coughlin, Jody Quintana, Mariah Leyba, Juanito Coughlin and great grandchildren Serenity Sandoval, Liliana Sandoval, Isaac Holmes and Sedona Hopper.

Services for Juan will be on July 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Rivera Funeral Home, 417 Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87501. Interment will follow the services. The pallbearers will be his sons Luis Leyba and Juan Carlos Valdez-Ita.

The family would like to thank the AA community who have provided Juan with so much support during this last year while our beloved dad was fighting cancer. You were all so generous with your time. The daily calls and frequent visits that so many of you made gave our dad so much joy. We also are thankful for the support you provided during each of the last hospitalizations. You all made sure that even when we couldn’t be there, he was never alone. We will forever cherish the stories you have shared with us. In the words of my dad, you are Juan in a million.