Jose "Fidel" Trujillo

Jose “Fidel” Trujillo

1940 - 2023

Fidel, 82 years, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on May 4, 2023. 

Fidel was a much-loved Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, friend and the beauty of his existence will remain deep within the hearts of those who knew and loved him.  Fidel was born in Chamita, NM on December 28, 1940 to Guillermo and Maria Garcia Trujillo.  He was raised on the family farm with his four brothers and two sisters and he was a longtime resident of Chamita.  

After graduating from Espanola HS in 1959, Fidel went on to Webber College & UNM.  After serving in the US Navy from 1964-1967 as a CTM3, Fidel returned to the family farm.  From 1967 – 2006, Fidel worked at the Los Alamos National Lab in various divisions, where his passion of electronics, math and physics brought him great joy and success in his career. 

In 1970 Fidel married the love of his life, Melina Martinez and he always joked that she fell in love with his car (a 1968 blue Chevelle SS) before she fell in love with him!  Son Chris arrived in 1978 and they made their home on the family farm, gardening, taking their cows to Tierra Amarilla and welcoming family and friends to Matanza celebrations.  

Fidel and Melina loved to travel and made numerous trips to Disneyland, Washington, Mexico and a most memorable trip to Europe where Fidel’s passion of his family genealogy found him searching for birth and baptism records in century old churches in Spain. 

Fidel was deeply involved in protecting the water rights of Chamita serving in various positions of the Acequia de Chamita, RCAA, NMAA, Chamita Mutual Domestic Water Consumers Association and the NMAC, where he was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson to serve on the State Acequia Commission.  Fidel was an encyclopedia of data for the local and state acequia associations and was happy to share his expertise and knowledge with many that came to him for assistance. Fidel enthusiastically watched all sports and boxing matches with his son Chris, loved his family, community, friends and enjoyed interactions with all (except for snakes!). 

Fidel was devoted to his Catholic faith and a long-time member of his beloved Hermanos de La Cofradía de Nuestro Padre Jesús Nazareno.

In 2009 when his beloved Melina passed, Fidel lost a part of his heart and during his last few years, he looked forward to being reunited with Melina and members of his family that had gone before him. Fidel leaves behind his devoted son Chris, brothers Eloy (Frances) and Fidencio (Rosie), sister-in-law Magdalene, numerous nieces, nephews, family members and his much-loved American Bulldogs, Cain and Dillinger.  Fidel is preceded in death by his wife Melina, his parents Guillermo and Maria Garcia Trujillo, sisters Lita and Lizzie and brothers Sef and Willie. 

Services will be at St. John the Baptist Church, Ohkay Owingeh, NM, on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, rosary at 10:30 am, Mass at 11:30 am and graveside burial at San Pedro de Chamita Cemetery at 1:30 pm.  After the graveside burial, please come and enjoy a meal with the family at the Chamita Community Center.  Chris and the Trujillo family thank everyone for their phone calls and expressions of love and support while we mourn and celebrate Fidel’s life.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Fidel’s name to St. John the Baptist Church, Ohkay Owingeh.  Special Thank you to Los Hermanos de Chamita and DeVargas Funeral Home in Espanola. 

The family of Jose Fidel Trujillo has entrusted  the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.  www.devargasfuneral.com  505-747-7477