David R. Salazar

David R. Salazar, 87, a lifelong resident of the Española Valley passed away at home on December 17, 2019.

David was born in Chamita to Jose Ramon and Francisquita DeSales Salazar. He was preceded in death by his parents, in-laws, five brothers, and two sisters, daughters Donna Marie and Dorene Bourger, and granddaughter Alina Bourger.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Sylvia, daughter Denise and husband Greg Penning of Omaha, Nebraska , Hon. Stephen Salazar and wife Renee, six granddaughters, Hillary, Danielle, Aleissa, Ariel, Hannah (Josh), Kayla, one grandson Stephen Matthew, and one great-grandson Lincoln. Also surviving him are a sister, Mary Agnes and husband Andres Gallegos and Arthur G. Salazar; many nieces, nephews, and other relatives and numerous friends. 

David has always been a doer, from the time he joined the National Guard at age 17, moving to Washington, D.C. after honorably serving during the Korean Conflict. He loved to ballroom dance the Cha Cha and other favorite dances and many people will testify that he was a fantastic dance instructor. He was a dance instructor at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Washington D.C. while attending Benjamin Franklin School of Accounting and Georgetown University starting in 1952 and continued to teach ballroom dancing for many years. He also had the opportunity to work at the United States Capitol as an elevator operator which enabled him to meet three former U.S. Senators who later became Presidents of the United States.

David met Sylvia in 1960 and soon after married her as his lifelong partner. David began his public service career as a Trustee with the Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative July of 1969, and has proudly served for 50 consecutive years. He proudly represented the Jemez Coop at the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. He served 2 years as Rio Arriba County Probate Judge, and 10 years as Rio Arriba County Assessor. In 1969, David and local friends helped revive the City of Española Oñate Fiesta, a local tradition that continues today.

David was a very devoted Catholic and loyal to Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, he helped establish the Sacred Heart Bingo in the early 1980s, which continued for 35 years. David also volunteered his time to serve as the New Mexico State Commander for the Disabled American Veterans from 2002 to 2008. David helped many people and accomplished many other accolades that he was proud of but too modest to mention.     

The family would like to thank all his friends and family for their kind words, prayers and support for visiting him at home, Serving as pallbearers are Jerome Block, John Ramon Vigil, Dennis, Emiliano, Jacob Salazar, and Albert Gallegos.

A Rosary will be prayed for David on Monday, December 23, 2019 at The Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Espanola at 4:00 PM, 908 Rosario Street, Espanola, NM 87532.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Espanola at 9:00 AM. Following the Funeral Mass the Salazar Family will be having a reception at the Beatrice V. Q. Senior Center, 735 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Park Rd, Espanola, NM.

Burial with Military Honors will take place at The Santa Fe National Cemetery on December 24, 2019 at 2:15 PM