Mary Lou Sorenson

Mary Lou Sorenson , a beloved mother, grandmother, and the wife of Professor Jay Sorenson (predeceased) of the University of New Mexico, who cared deeply about her friends, family, and the well-being of all others, passed away peacefully in her sleep Tuesday, July 16, 2024. She is survived by her children, Vivian Sorenson and Eugene Sorenson; their spouses, Gary Meister and Andrée Sanders; and three grandchildren, Zoe Meister, Campbell Sorenson, and Louisa Sorenson.

Mary Lou was born in Leonia, New Jersey, and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Skidmore College (1954). She had an adventurous, joyous but also studious spirit. She led the Travel Bureau at Skidmore and with the penultimate trip being a tour of Europe with her classmates. Upon graduating, she moved to NYC, worked for the fashion company Tobey, and shared an apartment with two of her closest friends in Greenwich Village.

Soon after, she met the man who was to be her husband, Jay Sorenson, who was then a Ph.D. candidate at Columbia University. They married on June 21, 1959. The next day, they set sail for Norway, where they lived for a year, and explored the European continent. In 1968, with their two recently born children in tow, Mary Lou and Jay moved to Hong Kong for six months for Jay's sabbatical. They took the Trans-Siberian Railway to make their journey back to Europe and then home to Northampton, MA.

In 1970, Mary Lou and Jay visited New Mexico as they contemplated their next destination. Captivated by a perfect classical music station, KHFM, and enchanted by a stunning sunset over the Sandia Mountains, they decided to move their family west to Albuquerque. Mary Lou's growing concern for people's welfare led her to work with the League of Women Voters, addressing the need for better housing. This research into housing eventually led her to a career in real estate. Mary Lou became an agent for H. Parnegg, a Coldwell Banker company, where she loved finding the perfect home for families.

Upon arriving in New Mexico, Mary Lou and Jay explored all corners of the Land of Enchantment, engaging in activities like backpacking, white-water rafting, local and national politics, supporting different candidates through the years. Together, they developed a passion for the great outdoors and protecting open spaces.

Mary Lou had a unique voice, given her career in real estate, as she focused on the long-term well-being of Albuquerque. She coined the phrase, "It's Your Mountain, Save the Elena Gallegos." Once the East side of the city was protected, she worked with the Open Space Task Force to safeguard the petroglyphs on the West side. In 1990, she took great pride when Congress designated 7,220 acres of this land as the Petroglyph National Monument.

Mary Lou's impact will be everlasting for those who knew and loved her, and for those who care about Albuquerque's open spaces.