Richard Paul Blair

Richard Paul Blair translated on January 9th, 2022 at home in Costilla, New Mexico after a long battle with cancer.  Richard showed his courage in facing these challenges with grit and a sense of humor until the end.

Richard was born in Natick, Massachusetts on July 10th 1953 to Doris and Kenneth Blair.  Richard moved to Taos in 1973.  In Taos he developed his skill of culinary art in the kitchens of El Patio and the Sagebrush Inn before becoming a CEC and lead chef at the Sagebrush Inn Conference Center.  He was Food and Beverage Director also at the Sagebrush Inn, the Quality Inn, Ski Rio - Rio Costilla Resort, Cuchara Ski Resort and The Red Diamond Grill at the Taos Pueblo Casino.

Richard owned and operated a restaurant in Alamosa, CO along with his wife of over 24 years, Karen.  His passions were skiing, golfing, as well as camping and mushrooming the beautiful Rio Costilla Park. Go Red Sox!

In 1986 he was one of the Chefs that started Taos Feeds Taos. In 1991 he was part of a team of Taos Chefs that accompanied the Carson National Forest Christmas tree to Washington DC where a reception of Northern New Mexico food was served in the Capitol Building.  For many, many years he was instrumental in the Quality Inn-Vitegolf tournament that raised thousands of dollars for charity.

Richard is survived by his much-loved wife,  Karen McCurtain-Blair, son,  Kevin (DeAnn) Blair, father,  Kenneth (Louise) Blair Sr., mother, Doris Brandon, sister, Nancy (Jay) Hogeland, sister, Janis Blair, sister-in-law,  Shelley Blair, granddaughters, Leila and Dalila Blair, and Bradley (Christy) and Allegra Sleep, as well as many loved nieces and nephews.  He is predeceased by his son, Richard Blair Jr. and brothers, Stephen and Kenny Blair.

Richard's family would like to send a special thanks to Mountain Home Hospice for their compassion and care, especially Deirdre and Esperanza.  A Celebration of Life is planned for early summer in his beloved Costilla garden, date and time to be announced. Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home, Taos.  To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com