M. David "Dave" Santillanes

Santillanes, Moises David "Dave" Age 85, a lifelong resident, community leader, and businessman, died at his home September 2, 2013, embraced by the love of his family. Dave was born April 13, 1928, in Albuquerque. His parents, Moises and Faustina Santillanes, his brother Joe, and his son Randy preceded him in death. Dave moved to Alameda when he was just a few weeks old. He grew up helping his father homestead the La Cueva area that bordered the Sandia Reservation and eventually became part of the base of the Sandia Peak Tram. As young boys, Dave and his brother Joe would travel by horseback, taking cattle from their ranch at the base of the Sandia Mountains to the railroad depot in downtown Albuquerque for shipment to Kansas City. Dave grew up always involved with his family, his community and his church. He was an altar boy and helped his parents with their grocery store and the post office they operated out of the front of their home. He was proud of his service in the U.S. Navy where he served at the end of WWII in the Asian Sea 1946-1947. Following his honorable discharge in 1947, Dave returned to Albuquerque to marry the love of his life, Lydia Armijo, at their Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Alameda. Together they had three children and built a life of love and devotion to each other, their families, and their church. They were married 65 years. As president of the ushers association at Nativity Church, Dave loved to greet the congregation with a warm smile and friendly gesture each Sunday morning. When Dave and Father Mendez were together, the humorous candor they shared drew a crowd that made the 9am mass the most popular and memorable Sunday service at Nativity Church. In 2010 Dave and Lydia Santillanes were honored at the Basilica of St. Francis in Santa Fe by Archbishop Michael Sheehan for their many years of dedicated service and generosity to the Catholic Archdiocese of Santa Fe. As a community leader Dave organized and managed the American Legion baseball team in Alameda. He was a member of American Legion Post 69, Charter Member of the BPO Elks Lodge 2500, a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and a past member of the Rio Rancho and Albuquerque Hispano Chambers of Commerce. He was also a member of the Albuquerque Association for Retarded Children. He supported the Boy Scouts and several Little League teams over the years. Dave worked tirelessly to help improve the lives of his fellow citizens. He never turned down a person in need. Ever the champion for the less fortunate, he found politics the path to provide solutions. From the earliest days of working campaigns to his many years as Democratic Precinct Chairman from Alameda to his eventual election to the Bernalillo County Commission in 1975, he made a big difference. He was re-elected to the Commission in 1978 serving as Chairman for five of his eight years. During his tenure he also served on the Executive Board of the National Association of Counties; Chairman of the Juvenile Justice Committee of NACO; Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments; and the Transportation Board of the MRGCG. There were numerous accomplishments through his public service. To name a few, he built coalitions among fellow elected officials to create the Paseo and eventually the Montano River crossings, and he helped lead the efforts to establish more bike trails and parks throughout the county. Ever the entrepreneur, Dave Santillanes was able to identify a need in the marketplace and build a business to satisfy it. His first enterprise started in 1955 as a small bar with four seats in Alameda. He developed and expanded it into what became the local gathering place. Everybody knew Dave�s Bar in Alameda. In addition to the bar, he added an events hall which became the venue for political rallies, wedding receptions, and dances along with many other celebrations. Today the building is home to the Adobe Theater. While building the business, Dave bought and developed a small working cattle ranch west of the Angostura works in Algodones. In 1971 he became a co-founder and organizer of Rio Grande Valley Bank in the North Valley. In 1973, as co-developer of the Tierra del Sol Apartments on Coors Road, he provided student housing for the Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. In 1977 he founded Vista Verde Memorial Park in Rio Rancho. His last business venture, which he owned and operated with his wife Lydia until his death, is D & L Storage. Every morning for years Dave enjoyed beginning his day with friends and fellow politicians over coffee at a local North Valley restaurant! Dave Santillanes is survived by his beloved wife Lydia, his daughter Kathleen Santillanes of Albuquerque, his son M. David Santillanes, Jr. and wife Lu Ann of Bellevue, WA, his five grandchildren, Scott Schneider and wife Anna of Rio Rancho, Michelle Makil of Las Vegas, NV, Jennifer Kassan and husband Josh of San Antonio, TX, Russel Santillanes of New York, NY, Kurtis Santillanes of Tokyo, Japan, and his great grandchildren, Alexis and Scott Schneider, Jr. of Rio Rancho; brother, L.A. "Tony" Santillanes of Albuquerque, NM. Dave and Lydia were very proud of their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. His spirit lives on through them. A visitation will be held from 6:15pm to 8:00pm with a Veterans Prayer Service at 6:50pm being presented by Post 69. Recitation of the Rosary will follow at 7:00pm, Thursday evening, September 5, 2013, at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, 97 Fourth Street NW, Albuquerque, NM. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Friday morning, September 6, 2013, at 9am with Father Juan Mendez and Bishop Arthur Tafoya concelebrants. Entombment to follow with full military honors being presented by the 47th Regiment at Vista Verde Memorial Park, 4310 Sara Road SE, Rio Rancho, NM. Pallbearers will be Scott Schneider, Russel Santillanes, Kurtis Santillanes, Michelle Makil, Jennifer Kassan, and Scott Schneider, Jr. Honorary pallbearers will be Anna Schneider, Alexis Schneider, Josh Kassan, Shayne Brown, Rita Feik, John Feik, and Robert Lucero. The family is grateful to the caregivers that added to the quality of Dave Santillanes� last days. To view information or leave a condolence, please visit www.danielsfuneral.com Daniels Family Funeral Services 4310 Sara Road SE Rio Rancho, NM 87124 505-892-9920