Richard Eitzen

Knowing he was in declining health, Richard wrote his own obituary, almost a year before his death. Here it is:

Richard Eitzen, an Albuquerque native, died on September 30, 2024, after a period of declining health.

He is survived by his wife Linda Neun Eitzen; his brother, Harold Eitzen (Carole); sister-in-law Mary Stiles (Mark Ethier), sister-in-law Georgia Simpson (Jim); as well as numerous cousins, nephews and nieces, and dear friends. He was born in June 1942 at Presbyterian Hospital and lived in the "Old Town" area until he was 4.

Richard often said "the smartest thing I ever did was to court and win Linda as my bride" ...now 56 years! That event created the wonderful life that he and Linda were able to share together beginning in 1968.

Richard attended neighborhood public schools and NMMI before graduating from Highland High. Two years at NMMI were sufficient for his rehabilitation from a life that could have gone sideways. He graduated from UNM and taught school for a number of years. Returning to UNM for a Master's Degree, he then worked as an environmental scientist and other positions for PNM; then Real Estate and Management. His goal was to retire early, and he did. Age 50 was enough of working. He worked hard when working, but he was known to say that "work is not all it's cracked up to be".

Along the way, Richard enjoyed all types of bird hunting and fly fishing, anything outdoorsy, also tennis, golf, and other sporting activities. One of his biggest joys was raising, training and field trialing his Labrador Retrievers. He travelled the SW United States going to field trials and usually successfully. He would sell a trained dog and he and Linda would acquire another puppy to train. He was proud to serve as board member and president of the Albuquerque Retriever Club which sponsored two field trials every year in New Mexico.

Thanks to a lifetime as investors, he and Linda were able to travel the world in pursuit of good times, good people, good food and wine, as well as some fly fishing in Argentina, Alaska, New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean and the USA. In addition to the fun, Richard and Linda established a donor advised fund at the Albuquerque Community Foundation. Richard said their foundation fund was kind of like the Ford Foundation, just a little smaller.

Richard knew how lucky he and Linda were to enjoy such a fulfilling life. He also believed that to a great extent, one creates one's own luck. Thanks to Linda, Rich did retire early and became a house husband (sort of). Cooking, laundry, shopping, errands, 18 holes of golf. At times it was hard to fit it all in. This freed Linda from the mundane chores and weekends were filled with fun together. The fun tapered off when Linda became more and more of a caregiver. The love remained.

Richard will miss more of life together with Linda, and he will be missed by many.

Services are still being planned for Richard's Celebration of Life. Please check back here for updates.