Robert Naranjo

Robert Anthony Naranjo, a longtime resident of Espanola, New Mexico, went peacefully to our Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in Albuquerque. 

He was preceded in death by his father Jose Carlos Naranjo, mother Carmelita Quintana Naranjo: grandparents: Jose Pedro Naranjo and Delfina Garcia Naranjo, Jose Blas Quintana and Ramoncita Esquibel Quintana, brother Carlos Frank Naranjo, infant sisters: Ramoncita Bernarda and Grace Naranjo, brother-in-law Raymon E. Massey: nephews Michael and William Naranjo, niece Melissa Martinez, great nephews: Joshua Sanchez, Kevin Romero and infants Matthew and Luke Espinoza and numerous other extended family members.

Robert was born on December 23,1959 in Espanola, New Mexico, and raised in El Llano. He was a Christmas baby, and he always enjoyed his extended birthday celebration into Christmas. As a very happy child, he spent a lot of his time helping with feeding of the numerous animals in the farm and playing outdoors with his brothers and sisters. He used to love to play in the El Llano Mountains, riding his bike, hiking around and going snow sledding/tubing down them. Robert graduated from Espanola Valley High School in 1977 and continued to New Mexico Highland University where he received a BA in Business & Tourism Management. After graduation he was undecided on what to do next with his life . Highlands was offering a new program for an Associates in Ski Instruction. Not knowing how to ski, Robert decided it might be a good way to meet girls, so he signed up. He spent the next two years learning to ski, the business and working with Ernie Blake at Taos Ski Valley during the winter quarter. He had classes at Highlands during the Spring, Summer and Fall quarters. After completion of his AA in Ski Instruction, he continued attending school at Highlands and receive a MA in Political Science.

Robert worked in Albuquerque with the Convention and Visitors Bureau. He loved his job because he got to travel extensively. He worked with the Sisters Cities Foundation and was able travel throughout Mexico and around the US. He was also the Director of the Espanola Tourism Development. Robert worked at the KDCE radio station, El Norteno Magazine and the Los Alamos Monitor. He modeled for the John Roberts Agency and even got a full-page picture ad in New Mexico Magazine. Robert had acting roles in a few Albuquerque plays. His greatest passion though was writing. If he wasn’t writing articles for one of the newspapers or magazines, he was writing online. He started a Facebook weekly live news brief during covid and then expanded it afterwards to convey information and ideas that he is developing. Robert was a devoted catholic and he ended his news casts with a prayer that he gave both in Spanish and English. He had been a reader at the 8:00 am Spanish mass at Holy Cross Church in Santa Cruz for many years. He also helped raise money and distribute Christmas presents for the Espanola charity, “Put a Smile on a Child’s Face” for a least a decade.

Robert loved New Mexico history and was the family genealogist and a great story teller. If you asked him a question on NM history you had to be prepared to listen for a least a half hour.

He loves to tell jokes and sing and dance. When the family would get together for birthdays, he would sing songs and tell stories and make everyone laugh. If he saw his sisters or nieces at any dance, he would enjoy dancing with them all night.

Robert is survived by his three brothers: Mike Naranjo and Juvela, Sammy Naranjo and Justine, Lawrence Naranjo and Louise and seven sisters: Sophie N. Garcia, Clarabelle Romero and Solomon, sister-in-law Pauline Naranjo, Connie Espinoza and Ronald, Elsie Griego and Manuel, Carmen Martinez and Adan, Elizabeth Ortiz and James, Ramoncita Naranjo-Massey and Christian. He also survived by over 100 nephews and nieces, great nephew and nieces and great, great nephews and nieces and many more relatives and friends.

The services for Robert Naranjo will be held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, beginning with a Rosary at 10:00 am, then following by the Mass of Christian burial and celebration at 11:00 am, all at Holy Cross Church, Santa Cruz, NM. The burial will be after the mass at Holy Cross Cemetery.

The family of Robert Naranjo has entrusted their beloved Robert to the Staff of the DeVargas Funeral Home.