David M. D. Bennett
<p>April 6, 2022</p> <p>David M. D. Bennett, 70, a long time resident of Monteuma, New Mexico, left this world on March 6, 2022 and has joined our Lord Jesus Christ after a long and courageous battle with COPD. He was born on January 24, 1952. He was a Catholic, a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church and an “Hermano” de la Sociedad de Nuestro Padre Jesus, Maria, Jose in the Morada at Montezuma.</p> <p> Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Shirley Bennett of Montezuma, NM. He is survived by his brother, Eric (Irene); his sister, Roxanne Bennett-Sanchez (Carl); several nieces and nephews; his longtime fur-friend, Panda; his friends whom he called “family”; Esteban, Gloria, and Esteban J. Medina; his caregivers: Rose Gallegos, Roberta Smith, and many lifelong friends and “Compadres” from Montezuma/Las Vegas vicinity.</p> <p> Dave was a 1971 graduate of West Las Vegas High School and a proud “Don”. Dave worked for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe as a guard at the Montezuma Castle and then when the castle and its grounds were transferred in the early 80’s, he served for 26 years as the Director of Maintenance at the United World College of the American West, from which he retired. He was proud of his many years of service to the Montezuma Castle and he made many friends and acquaintances in that position including Armand Hammer and even Prince Charles.</p> <p> Dave was a get-away parent for many UWC students over the years but was closest to Martijn Muys, Roeland De Wilde of the Netherlands and Sebastien de Halleux of Belgium. He and his good friend Pedro Medina took many UWC students to the Maes area that they loved and introduced them to this grand canyon of New Mexico and had many adventures there.</p> <p> Rosary services will be conducted at Our Lady of Sorrows Church on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will follow immediately thereafter. A private burial of Dave’s cremains will be held at a later date. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Adelino “Lino” Gallegos, Esteban Medina, Esteban J. Medina, John Gonzales, Martijn Muys, Sebastien de Halleux and Roland De Wilde.</p> <p> Sincere thanks for Kristen Rojas, the Kirby House, Danelle Smith, Jeannie Blattman, Arline Quintana-Thomas, Meals on Wheels, staff from Alta Vista and Lovelace Hospital, ”Los Hermanos de la Sociedad de Jesus Maria de Jose” and the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West in Montezuma for their kindness and support. </p>Obituary
April 6, 2022
David M. D. Bennett, 70, a long time resident of Monteuma, New Mexico, left this world on March 6, 2022 and has joined our Lord Jesus Christ after a long and courageous battle with COPD. He was born on January 24, 1952. He was a Catholic, a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church and an “Hermano” de la Sociedad de Nuestro Padre Jesus, Maria, Jose in the Morada at Montezuma.
Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Shirley Bennett of Montezuma, NM. He is survived by his brother, Eric (Irene); his sister, Roxanne Bennett-Sanchez (Carl); several nieces and nephews; his longtime fur-friend, Panda; his friends whom he called “family”; Esteban, Gloria, and Esteban J. Medina; his caregivers: Rose Gallegos, Roberta Smith, and many lifelong friends and “Compadres” from Montezuma/Las Vegas vicinity.
Dave was a 1971 graduate of West Las Vegas High School and a proud “Don”. Dave worked for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe as a guard at the Montezuma Castle and then when the castle and its grounds were transferred in the early 80’s, he served for 26 years as the Director of Maintenance at the United World College of the American West, from which he retired. He was proud of his many years of service to the Montezuma Castle and he made many friends and acquaintances in that position including Armand Hammer and even Prince Charles.
Dave was a get-away parent for many UWC students over the years but was closest to Martijn Muys, Roeland De Wilde of the Netherlands and Sebastien de Halleux of Belgium. He and his good friend Pedro Medina took many UWC students to the Maes area that they loved and introduced them to this grand canyon of New Mexico and had many adventures there.
Rosary services will be conducted at Our Lady of Sorrows Church on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will follow immediately thereafter. A private burial of Dave’s cremains will be held at a later date. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Adelino “Lino” Gallegos, Esteban Medina, Esteban J. Medina, John Gonzales, Martijn Muys, Sebastien de Halleux and Roland De Wilde.
Sincere thanks for Kristen Rojas, the Kirby House, Danelle Smith, Jeannie Blattman, Arline Quintana-Thomas, Meals on Wheels, staff from Alta Vista and Lovelace Hospital, ”Los Hermanos de la Sociedad de Jesus Maria de Jose” and the Armand Hammer United World College of the American West in Montezuma for their kindness and support.