Gloria Elena (Chavez) Chavez Fitch

Gloria Elena Chavez Fitch passed away at her home in Sandia Park on June 16, 2017.  She was 66-years old.  Dr. Chavez [Fitch] was a retired scientist and physicist from Sandia National Laboratories, and a graduate of the University of New Mexico and Colorado State University.  Gloria was president of Trinitek Services, a nuclear safety consulting business located in the Albuquerque area.  She served for a number of years as a Senior Science Advisor in programs of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Energy managing cooperative, nonproliferation programs between the United States of America, Russia, and the other former republics of the Soviet Union.  As part of her career at Sandia Labs, she developed radiation and environmental monitoring programs, the radioactive waste management program, and the Radioactive Mixed Waste Management Facility.  Following the events of 9/11, she was instrumental in enhancing America’s common defense and security programs and national emergency response programs, and in protecting the nation’s critical infrastructure (dams, electrical grid, and water) and icons such as the U.S. Capitol Building, the Washington Monument and the Statue of Liberty, and the national parks (among others).  She was an R&D 100 Award winner, a past board member of the Health Physics Society and the Adoption Exchange, and was appointed by several governors for 20+ years to the New Mexico Radiation Technical Advisory Council.  She was born in El Tofo, Chile, was fluent in the Spanish language, and was an avid reader.  Gloria was a wonderful, Christian wife, and mother with a deep commitment to her faith in Jesus.  She devoted her entire earthly life to helping others and to improving the human condition.  Gloria is survived by her husband, Stanley Fitch (Sandia Park); and their sons, Angelo (Albuquerque), and Antonio (Dulce, NM).  She is also survived by her sister; Barbara Chavez Rock (Laguna Niguel, California), brother, Felipe Chavez (Albuquerque), sister, Ana Chavez Strome (Albuquerque and Santa Fe), and sister Lisa Chavez Mitchell (Albuquerque).  Gloria is also survived by two grandchildren, and by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins who love her very much.  She was preceded in death by her daughter, Chimene; and her parents, Antonio Armijo Chavez and Shirley Helen “Joyce” Granzow Chavez.  Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday June 20, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. in the main sanctuary at Calvary Chapel Albuquerque, which is located at 4001 Osuna Road NE in Albuquerque.  A Reception and Interment will follow the service.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (https://www.pancan.org/) and the American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/).

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