Consuelo Thompson

Consuelo S. Thompson, known to all as "Connie", passed away peacefully at La Vida Llena Lifeplan Retirement Community on Sunday, December 16, 2018. She called La Vida Llena her home for just under ten years. Teresita Consuelo Salazar was born at 10:00 a.m., April 22, 1929, in San Juan Pueblo. She graduated from Espanola High School in 1946. Connie began her love of travel with a three-month tour of Europe at age 23 in 1953. She was crowned “Charity Ball Queen” by the Conference of State Societies in D. C. that same year and Cherry Blossom Queen in 1955. She worked on Capitol Hill for various elected officials including NM Senator Joseph Montoya. Connie commuted with her good friend, Evelyn Lincoln, personal secretary to President John F. Kennedy. She met her husband James C. Thompson in D. C. while he was working for the National Security Agency and attending Georgetown University and Law School at night. They came to New Mexico in 1965 where he opened his law practice and she served as his legal secretary. They were married 34 years when he predeceased her in 1990. She was then married to David Ortega from 1995 to 2002. Connie holds the distinction of being the first female Hispanic mayor of Espanola and one of the first female Hispanic mayors in the nation. She served as City Councilor from 1979-1982 and again from 1992-2000. She was President of the New Mexico Municipal League; member, Board of Directors, National League of Cities; Member, Women in Municipal Government; Member, League of Spanish Speaking Municipal Officials. She served as Chair of the New Mexico Arts Commission; President of Amantes De Flores Garden Club; Chair of the Corrections Committee, New Mexico Criminal Justice Resource Center. She served on the Board of Directors of the Western States Art Foundation and the North Central Economic Development District. She was a member of the Santa Fe Opera Guild, Espanola Hospital Auxiliary, Girl Scouts of America Sangre de Cristo Council, Las Amigas de Nuevo Mejico—Ambassadors of Good Will to Promote New Mexico, Onate Fiesta Council and Santa Cruz United Methodist Church. She worked as the Administrative Aide to House Majority Leader Michael Olguin, New Mexico State Legislature in the early 90’s. As Executive Director of the Espanola Chamber of Commerce she brought the Chamber back from the brink of extinction in 1991 and again in 2000-2001. She was selected Espanola Woman of the Year in 1975 and received the IDA EDITH Award in 2004 as recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to the Espanola Valley. Connie was a world traveler visiting countries both for pleasure and as a dignitary including the Soviet Union, Finland, China, Egypt, Italy, England, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama and Chile. For Connie, life was about possibilities, forging new paths, and never giving up. Some called her ‘stubborn’. Others called her a ‘go-getter’. Her tenacity was evident in her campaigns for public office—some she won and others she didn’t; her encouragement of women in politics and mentoring of young female leaders. She raised three strong daughters all of whom were blessed to call her ‘a good mom’. She enjoyed visiting and caring for her grandchildren and was generous to her brothers and sisters. Connie’s larger-than-life presence leaves a void that can never be filled. She was preceded in death by her parents, Jose Ramon Salazar and Francisquita DeSales Atencio Salazar; her brothers, John Block Jr., Ramon E., Jose G., Tim III, Orlando, and her sister Sarah. She is survived by her three daughters: Frances Leigh Thompson-Gee and husband Robert of New York, grandchildren Alicia Roma and husband Paul Seling and Justin Cecil and wife Stephanie, great-grandchildren Gabriel Salazar and Roma Bell Seling, and newborn Leah Irene Thompson-Gee; her daughter Christina Marie (Chrissy) Salazar Akes and husband Vernon of Albuquerque, grandchildren Jeremy Lee Salazar and Lindsey Marie Salazar; and Consuelo Dianne Sonive and husband Sam of Arizona, grandchildren Caleb James Mendoza and Jaden Samuel Sonive. She is also survived by her brother David Salazar and wife Sylvia, brother Arthur G. Salazar, and sister Mary Agnes and husband Andres Gallegos as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. Connie will lie in state at Rivera Family Funeral Home, 305 Calle Salazar, Espanola, on Thursday, December 20, 2018, from 3 - 7pm with a prayer service at 6pm. The funeral service will take place on Friday, December 21, 22018, at 8:00 a.m. at Santa Cruz United Methodist Church, 405 S. McCurdy Road, Espanola, NM, officiated by her son-in-law Rev. Robert Thompson-Gee. Interment will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Pallbearers are her six grandchildren: Alicia Roma, Justin Cecil, Caleb James, Jeremy Lee, Lindsey Marie, and Jaden Samuel. A Celebration of Life for Connie will be held at La Vida Llena, Albuquerque, in the new year. The family wishes to thank all staff and health care professionals of La Vida Llena who always had a ready smile and a helping hand for Connie. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Connie Thompson may be sent to La Vida Llena Full Life Foundation, 10501 Lagrima de Oro NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.