David M. Sanchez

David M. Sanchez was born on May 21, 1952, and was lovingly adopted by Jose and Viola Sanchez. He grew up in Albuquerque and Santa Rosa, New Mexico, where he earned the nickname “Rato” from his lifelong friends Chuko, Davy, Tutor, and many others after his boyhood habit of catching rattlesnakes and placing their rattles in his guitar. David graduated from Highlands University, and it was there that he met the love of his life, Roberta. He often joked that he waited outside the home economics building and she was the first one to come out; for her, he earned the name “Sweetheart.” The couple recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

David and Roberta were blessed with four children, Veronica (James), Christina, Noelle (Andres), and little David (Adrienne); six grandchildren, Victoria (Cevin), Vanessa, Viola, baby David, Mateas, and Cyra; and two great-grandchildren, Jeremy and Vayla. To them he was known simply as Dad and Grandpa. A firm believer in the value of education, David served in the United States Army, earned a master’s degree, worked as an environmental scientist, taught at Notre Dame, retired from state government, reviewed grant proposals for the federal government, served as a college professor, and owned his own business.

Yet if asked about his greatest accomplishment, David would say without hesitation that it was his family. He expressed his love in quiet, everyday ways—fixing a broken can opener, making sure the garage door was closed, caring for the dogs, meeting the grandkids at the bus stop, and answering every phone call. He passed away on March 9, 2026, at the age of 73, leaving behind a legacy of devotion that will continue to live in the hearts of all who knew him.