Nicolas Sanchez

SANCHEZ, NICOLAS S.Nicolas died at the age of 86. He was a proud 16th generation New Mexican and resident of Albuquerque. He passed away on April 24, 2013. He is survived by Lila, his wife of sixty five years. During their marriage they had 7 children: S.J., Nick and finance, Jessica, Anna and husband, Dale, Alfred and wife, Jennifer, Lila and husband, Rick, Ricardo and wife, Ali, and Lorraine and husband, Mike; his grandchildren; Teresa, Paul, Nicole, Melissa, Jennifer, Mike, John, Andy Nicolas, Isabella, Jeremy, Theresa, Caroline, Seth, Ricardo, Sarah, Justin, and Jamie. Nick and Lila have 14 great grandchildren: Analise, Noah, Ryan, Emma, Joshua, Tiger, Maylin, Jack, Delilah, Dillon, Joshua, Sutton, Mattias, and Elise. Nick leaves behind his sister and brothers, Dolores and husband, Cal; Alfred and wife, Laura; and Alex and wife, Teri. Nicolas was preceded in death by his parents, Jose Maria and Ana Maria; and his sisters and brothers; Eutimia, Ciria, Joe, and Ernie. In his early years, he was a mechanic in the South Valley, then joined the Merchant Marines and served until the end of the war, at which time he received an Honorable Discharge. He met his wife Lila in Los Angeles in 1947. After they married in Los Angeles, they moved to Albuquerque and Nick became a firefighter at Kirtland Air Force Base. Nick and Lila purchased Goodrich Roofing in 1960, and as owner, completed thousands of commercial and residential projects, including the Hilton Hotel, Coronado, Winrock, Nob Hill Shopping Centers, UNM, UNMH, TVI, Sandia National Labs, KAFB, St Pius X High School, Hoffmantown Baptist Church, and The Governors' Mansion. Most importantly, Nick installed plumbing in many homes owned by his family and built his own home in which all 7 children lived. Nick was known by all to be devoted to his mother and father, his brothers and sisters, and his children. Nick was also generous to his employees, many of whom have gone on to open their own businesses. As a humanitarian, he pursued human-justice issues, and civil rights causes. He went about these good works in a quiet, but effective, manner. Nicolas was a generous man, his generosity extended to New Mexico Catholic churches, the National Hispanic Cultural Center, New Mexico Merchant Marines Memorial, Habitat for Humanity, Casa Angelica and the families of his employees. A rosary will be recited on Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at FRENCH - University. Holy mass will be celebrated by Father Ramos at Our Lady of the Annunciation on Monday, April 29, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. Interment will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery on Menaul. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate Memorial Contributions made to "Good Shepherd Center" (Nicolas S. Sanchez) P.O. Box 749, Albuquerque, NM 87103.