Robert Leopoldo Trujillo

Robert (Bob) Leopoldo Trujillo, affectionately known to family as “the baby-whisperer,” died Wednesday, November 18, 2020 after a lifetime spent nurturing the people he loved most, his family.  

In his 79-year life, Bob’s brand of family-nurturing often took the form of caretaker to the sick, dying, and distressed. Bob selflessly took it upon himself to comfort his family in the ways they needed it most. For one sister, that meant providing calm and encouraging rides to and from her radiation treatments. For another, it entailed traveling to another state to pamper her with smoothies and stories in her last weeks, and a manicure on her last day. And for his cancer-suffering son-in-law Ronald (now deceased husband of daughter, Aniesa Trujillo), it included pain-relieving massages and car rides “out” where Bob consoled his son-in-law with his own profound faith in God and heaven.

As youngsters, Bob’s children, Aniesa, John Trujillo, and Anna Mondragon grew up as blessed beneficiaries of their father’s affection and wisdom. Bob spent countless mornings preparing hot breakfasts for his kids and was even known to shut down his bar, “El Rancho,” early for the night in order to help one of the kids with homework. When his children were young, he made efforts to create magical moments for them such as one Easter morning when he stamped bunny prints on the floor with his flour-dusted fingers and knuckles. By the time his children became young adults, he had nurtured a deep love and respect for education in each of them. John remembers, “We were at the dump and he was encouraging me to travel to Europe. I was fifteen. He said to ask lots and lots of questions, to not be afraid to ask the questions. His point was, ‘If you’re going to go, then learn!’”

Bob was a doting presence in the lives of his grandchildren Sandra Baca, Alicia Valdez, Nicholas Valdez, Christopher Trujillo, Loryn Trujillo, Carrie Mondragon, and Casey Mondragon as well as his great-grandchildren, Isabella Baca, Allie Baca, and Ryder Baca. Most family photos feature “Papa” with a grandchild cuddled in his lap or draped over a shoulder while they both slept. Bob spent many hours playing board games with his grandchildren and delivered oodles of entertainment for them with his cheating antics. 

For his wife of 52 years, Gloria Trujillo, Bob’s nurturing was reflected in his honesty, generosity, and loyalty. After vowing to never ask Gloria out again on a blind date because, “I didn’t like her. Too much make-up,” he eventually joined her in marriage, October 5, 1968. Gloria recalls Bob’s kindness, “He didn’t hand-pick anybody. He just did things for whoever needed it. He was always pulling weeds for my beauty shop customers and cleaning their yards.” His devotion to his wife was apparent each day she returned home from work. He’d stop whatever he was doing to greet her at her car with a kiss, an inquiry about her day, and his gathering up of her belongings to carry into the house. With gratitude, his wife reminisces, “Our marriage was a joy. We had a good friendship.”

Born March 27, 1941 in El Rito, NM, Bob grew up with a genuine regard for his siblings: Susie, Peter, Peggy, Eloy, Drucella, Ray, Angela, Andrew, and Mario. Even when Bob joined the Army, attended Long Beach State University, and lived in Southern California for nearly two decades before returning to New Mexico in 1979, he made concerted efforts to travel home to see his beloved family to “visit,” something he loved to do. It was with these siblings that Bob perfected his biscochito recipe so well that no family gathering properly commenced before someone asking, “Where are Uncle Bob’s biscochitos?”

When Bob wasn’t occupied lulling his grand-children and great-grandchildren to sleep, or burping, feeding, and changing them—all things, he claimed he did “best”—he nurtured his own spirit by spending time outside in the yard, watching Wheel of Fortune (where he was known to make occasional snarky comments about a contestant’s lack of sense), or reading. When encouraging his own children and grandchildren to read, he’d say, “Everything you need to know is in a book somewhere.”

Unbeknownst to the mild-mannered and hard-working Bob, the most important lessons imparted to his family actually came from his example. Aniesa recollects, “He always told me to treat people well. He said, ‘It doesn’t matter if the person is the President of the United States or a custodian at the school, treat them the same.’”

A celebration of life for the ever-nurturing Robert (Bob) Leopoldo Trujillo will be held in the spring.