Harvey Mac Donald Love Jr

Harvey Mac Donald Love, Jr., known to all as "Don" passed away on July 13, 2026 in Albuquerque at the age of 91. He was born on March 23, 1935 in El Paso, TX. He grew up in Anton, TX and worked on his family farm throughout his youth. After high school he served in the U.S. Army and attended Texas Technological College, where he earned a degree in accounting. In 1959 he moved to Albuquerque, where he enjoyed a long career with Sandia National Laboratories, retiring as Director of the Auditing Division.

During Don's time in the Army, he was stationed at Fort Bliss in El Paso and at Fort Huachuca in Arizona. He was an artillery man and shot a whole lot of shells into the desert. His Army time was a guiding force in his life. He fell in love with the ocotillos and saguaros of the region and he became a true desert rat for the rest of his life.

Don's professional career required him to travel often. This travel took him to places nearby in New Mexico and many other sites throughout the United States. On other occasions Don was sent to the other side of the globe to perform his job. Being an auditor for the US Department of Energy during the cold war was an interesting job and he embraced it 100%. Once Don had retired, he continued to enjoy traveling and did so as often as he could.

Don was married three times; first to Sandra, then to Leigh, and finally to Ronda Gryniuk who he spent the last 35 years with.

Don and Ronda visited many places, including Spain, Costa Rica, the Panama Canal, and many interesting U.S. locations with the "Mystery Tour" group. They counted whales in Monterrey Bay, California, and served as camp hosts at Yellowstone National Park. They especially loved going to Scottsdale, Arizona.

Following their retirement, he and Ronda moved to Ruidoso, and after a few years there, they lived in Las Cruces, and finally back to Albuquerque last year.

In his later years, Don surprised everyone by acting in community playhouse productions in El Paso. He was a natural on stage, but nobody could have predicted that direction in his life.

Throughout his life, Don maintained an interest in art by collecting fine art and comics. He owned originals by LeRoy Nieman and Peter Hurd. He was an expert photographer and especially loved to shoot Western Americana, leading to endless searches for old wooden windmills. His other hobbies included collections of teapots, Hot Wheels cars, sports cards, action-figure toys, and other random things.

Don was a patriot and loved his country. He showed that in how he conducted himself every day. He didn't desire thanks or recognition. He was proud of his service in the army and his career. Later in life when he would go out to restaurants and other places wearing his US Army Veteran ballcap, while he appreciated it, he was not wearing it hoping someone would thank him for his service or buy him a beer. He wore that hat because he was proud he had served his country.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Mayde Love, of Anton, TX. He is survived by his wife, Ronda of Albuquerque, and his four sons: Don (and Carol) Love of Windsor, CO, George Love of Loveland, CO, Bradford (and Wren) Love of Bastrop, TX, and Jason Gryniuk of Albuquerque. He is also survived by his sister, Marilyn Nowell of Lubbock, TX and three grandchildren: Ross, Lanova, and Miles. Additionally, he is survived by the Salmeron Family' Jorge, Debbie, Ana, and Gaby, who is not family by blood but by heart.

A memorial service is planned for this coming fall, with burial taking place at Santa Fe National Cemetery.