Tomas Lopez

Telesfor Tomas (Tom) Lopez of Rodarte, NM, passed away from pneumonia with family at his bedside on November 11, 2023, at the Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, NM. He was 83 years of age and was preceded in death by his father and mother, Telesfor and Seferina Lopez, his granddaughter and sweetheart, Alicia Hall, son-in-law, Edward Callotta, and his two brothers, Dwight Lopez and J. Bealquin Lopez.

He was mostly known as Tom, but some fondly called him Tomas or Tommy. He was born at home in Rodarte, NM, in 1940, and was the second oldest of the thirteen children born to Telesfor and Seferina. He was married to his wife of 64 years, Viola Lopez, who survives him along with their three children: Tammy Johnson, Teresita Callotta, and Trinidad Lopez (Robert Miller, husband), and six grandchildren: Jaylynn Pacheco, Joseph Pacheco, Ricky Callotta, Jake Callotta, and great grandsons, Christian Osorio and Josiah Pacheco.

Tom lived most of his life in Rodarte, but as a young man, he worked for many years in the mines in Grants, Questa, Climax CO, and the Nevada Test Site. He also worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, WA, in the mid to late 1960s. He returned home to Northern NM for good in 1970 where he and Viola built their home together in Rodarte. Tom was very industrious and always navigated finding work in various positions, but his true calling was building. He became a General Contractor and created Santa Barbara Builders, Inc. He built multiple homes in Taos and Santa Fe and several commercial buildings in northern NM. He was a lifelong learner and loved to read articles that would improve his skills and building science. He never really retired from working until the last 5 years of his life when his medical conditions proved too difficult for him to get in and out of his Skidsteer or Excavator, but he kept managing his business with fervor.

Tom had a very vibrant personality and was a kind and affectionate person with a sharp mind; most who knew him would agree that hanging out with Tom was a pleasure. During the last few years of his life, he proved to show strength to persevere with grace, kindness, and gratitude for all those who helped and cared for him. His patron saint was St. Jude, for which he supported many of the organizations related to St. Jude. He also supported the Penasco Valley Historical Preservation Society so that his parochial school of St. Anthony would have the opportunity to shine again within the community. Those who loved the most will be missed the most. Tom will be missed immensely.

Rosary Service for Tom will be held on Friday November 24, 2023 at 2 PM at Rivera Family Funerals and Cremations at 818 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM. Celebration of Life reception will follow at the Hotel Don Fernando de Taos located at 1005 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur, Taos, NM.

Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home.  To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com