David B. Rico, 88 was born in Torreón, Sandoval County, New Mexico. Wolfstand Area of Naneelzhiin Community which is in the far Eastern Region of the Navajo Nation. David prefered to be called DAVE by family and friends.

His parents are Mr. Luciano Rico of Ojo Encino, NM and Ida Mae Toledo Jack of Torreón, NM. His maternal grandparents are Mr and Mrs Pedro Toledo of Torreón, NM. Paternal grandparents are Mr and Mrs Juan Rico of Ojo Encino. His clans are Kinlichiinii, born to Todichinii, maternal grandparents are Naakai Dine'e and paternal grandparents are Bitahnii. He is the eldest of four children, Bobby Rico Sr, Ella M. McCabe and Mary A. Acevedo.About 1965, He married Alice Sandoval and had 5 children together. Alice Sandoval Rico, preceded him in death in 2025.

He has a lot of good memories growing up between the homes of his Toledo and Rico Grandparents. He herd sheep, learn to ride and care for his horse, help plant and harvest fields of corn, squash, beans and assorted melons. He also learned to look after his siblings.

He attended Torreon Boarding School, Crownpoint Boarding School, Intermountain Indian School and graduated from Wingate Boarding School in 1959. He was an outstanding and popular basketball and baseball athlete at Wingate. He was attending Phoenix College in Arizona when he got drafted during the Vietnam War. In 1960 he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1964.

He always said, "As long as I can remember I always had a job." He did farm work in Grants, NM with his Toledo grandparents. He did farm work in Corrales, NM with his mom and siblings. He worked on the Union Pacific Railroad with his father. He worked in Crownpoint,NM as a Navajo Nation Census Clerk. He worked for Kerr McGee as a Civil Engineer. He retired about 2002 from BIA Roads after working 20 plus years as a civil engineer.

He started his long Navajo Nation Government career being elected as Torreon/Starlake Chapter Vice President in 1987 and he served 2 terms. He was chapter president for 3 terms. He served 2 terms as Navajo Nation Council Delegate in the 20th and 21st Navajo Nation Council. He retired from the Navajo Nation Government in 2020.

His children are Theresa Rico Bell, John D. Rico, Dawn Rico, Alicia Rico, Byron Rico, Aaron Rico and Rolando Rico. 26 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.

He enjoyed sports so much he had his own community Men, Women and coed softball team named Tinian Knights in the 1980s. He continued to play in reservation league basketball into his 50s. He had his favorite NBA, NFL and MLB teams. He enjoyed pepperoni pizza and casino slot machines too much. He was an avid reader with his own library of history books. In the last years of life he lived in Navajo, NM with companion, Verna Ben and his support dog Chewy.

A Visitation will take place at French Funerals - Golf Course at 9300 Golf Course Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114 on Thursday, September 10, 2026 at 9:00am, followed by a Funeral Service at 10:00am. A Graveside Service will take place at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 501 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM 87501 at 1:15pm.