Melisendro "Mel" Ortiz

It is with deep sorrow that the family of MELISENDRO (MEL) TEODORO ORTIZ announce his passing on November 3, 2023, shy of his 96th birthday.  Our father was born on November 9, 1927 in Santa Fe, NM.  He is preceded in death by our mother, Crucita; father Melisendro, Sr.; mother Lucia; siblings: Johnny, Laurie Pacheco and Carrie Rodriquez; grandson Luis Miguel Ortiz.  He is survived by his five children: Connie Lopez; Sylvia Ortiz; Deborah Berardinelli; Carmen Ortiz and Luis Ortiz; numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters: Lucy Sanchez and Mary Lita Ortiz; brother, Tony Romero.

Our father was born and raised on Canyon Road in Santa Fe and came from humble beginnings.  Dad’s mother died when he was in eighth grade after which he left school and began working odd jobs to help his father raise the family.  Despite many obstacles, our dad courageously pursued endeavors that would make a difference in this world.

Dad volunteered to serve in the Army near the end of WW II and was stationed in the South Pacific.  Soon after being discharge from the military, dad married our mother in 1949.  Together, they raised a family of five children. 

Our father was a devoted Roman Catholic who enjoyed a life-long journey of charitable work and community service.  Dad directed the Spanish choirs at Cristo Rey Church; St. Francis Cathedral; St. Anne’s Church and played for rosaries; funerals; weddings and countless community events. His ministry also included involvement in the Cursillo movement; Marriage Enrichment; Pre-Cana; Los Hermanos Crusados; Weekends of Christian Living; St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store and numerous other organizations.

Dad became a founding member of the Indigent Fund and La Clinica de La Jente (aka La Familia) in the early 1970s.  Spending countless hours on a grass root effort to fund these programs, the community rallied behind the need for such programs.  Soon after these programs were funded, monies were dispersed through St. Vincent de Paul.

Dad was invited to serve on the Board of Directors and the Executive Board of St. Vincent’s Hospital by the Hospital Administrator, Sister Mary Joaquin.  Dad advocated for employee pay increases and minority representation in key management positions at the hospital for the next four years.      

After retiring from the US Post Office in 1982, dad began a quintet “Los Quinteros” and later “Mariachi Alma.”  Once introduced as having been “born with a guitar in his hands” dad began to delve deeper into “fine tuning” his God-given gift as a musician.  Dad played the guitar and piano by ear.  Later, he began taking lessons from his friend, Antonio Mendoza to play by note and was able to realize one of his many dreams.

Dad’s bucket list could not be fulfilled until he completed school to earn his GED.  In the 1990s, dad signed up for refresher courses at the Santa Fe Community College and made his dream a reality within a short period of time.

Dad and mom moved to Albuquerque for the last twenty years of his life.  He continued his ministry of music at Risen Savior Church and continued providing companionship and solace to persons in need of a compassionate friend.

Dad had an opened door policy and continued to invite people over for a visit any time day or night.  His telephone became a friendly mode of communication for persons unable to visit him at his home.  Dad sincerely derived as much enjoyment from these visits as did those who took the opportunity to visit him.  He always offered God’s blessing after each visit and quietly kept his loved ones in prayer.

Dad will be dearly missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.  Our lives have been enriched through the wisdom he shared with those who sought his advice.

Our family thanks you, in advance, for sharing your thoughts under the Memories and Condolences Section of this obituary.

On Friday, December 1, 2023 at 9:00am at Cristo Rey Catholic Church a Rosary will be held with the Funeral Mass to follow at 10:00am. Burial will follow at 2:30pm at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.