Lonnie G. Márquez

Lonnie Gene Márquez, a man of deep integrity, quiet strength, and boundless generosity, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at the age of 78, in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.

Lonnie was preceded in death by his parents Abe and Lupe Marquez, sister Anthonette Marquez-Alejandrez, nephew Dominico Marquez, and Ramon Valdez who was a cousin by blood but a sixth sibling in every way that mattered.

He is survived by his sisters: Roberta Marquez, JoAnn Marquez and brother-in-law Joe Alejandrez, brother John Marquez and sister-in-law Hope Marquez, as well as a wide circle of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends who loved him deeply and will carry his memory forward.

Lonnie was born on November 12, 1947, in Tucumcari, New Mexico, to Abraham "Abe" Marquez and Guadalupe "Lupe" Romero Marquez. Lonnie spent his life rooted in the values of family, service, and community—values he carried with him every single day.

The oldest of five siblings, Lonnie assumed the role of guide and protector naturally and without fanfare. He tenderly shepherded his brothers and sisters, and later their children and their children’s children, through life’s challenges and celebrations, always there with steady counsel and an open heart. He was a treasured member of a close-knit family, and they were immeasurably proud to call him their own.

Before building his civilian career, Lonnie answered the call to serve his country as a member of the Army National Guard. That sense of duty and discipline never left him as it shaped the man he became in every role he would go on to hold.

Lonnie graduated from New Mexico Highlands University in 1974 with a degree in Accounting and Finance, setting the foundation for a distinguished career in public service finance. That career culminated in his role as Vice President of Finance and Administration at New Mexico Tech University in Socorro, a position he held with distinction for 27 years. Socorro was not merely where he worked; it was the community he deeply loved and called home. He served on numerous local and statewide boards and commissions, earning the respect of colleagues and neighbors alike as someone whose word was his bond.

To know Lonnie away from the office was to know a man who found joy in the unhurried pleasures of life. He was an avid golfer, traveler and photographer, a devoted solver of crossword puzzles, and a lifelong lover of jazz and blues. On any given evening, you might find him watching sports with the same quiet intensity he brought to everything, or doubled over laughing at Arrested Development or America’s Funniest Home Videos or both as he usually commanded the remote control. His laugh, the kind that came from deep in the belly, was one of the great gifts of being in his presence.

Lonnie's Life Celebration will be held in Albuquerque and Socorro. Details will be shared with family and friends directly.