John Sanchez

John Anthony Sanchez was born on June 2, 1952, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was the first-born son of John S. and Elsie Sanchez. As a child John loved to play outside. Around twelve years old, John found a passion for chemistry and experiments. His mother, Elsie saw this growing passion for chemistry and bought John a white lab coat from the local pharmacist and the local pharmacist would order the chemicals John needed to do his chemistry experiments in their backyard shed. When John went to college, he earned his degrees in Chemical Engineering. After college graduation John had three solid job offers from major companies across the country and one from Los Alamos National Laboratory. However, John had a deeper love, Gloria E. Montoya, who was also from Albuquerque. Gloria and John were married in Albuquerque, New Mexico at St. Anne's Catholic Church. John and Gloria wanted to stay close to their roots in New Mexico, so they decided to accept the job at Los Alamos National Laboratory. On weekends, John and Gloria and their three daughters would often visit their families in Albuquerque. When staying at Gloria's parents' house for the weekend, John was often found talking to his father-in-law, Herman Montoya about everything from politics to buying stocks and bonds. John was close to Gloria's family.

In Los Alamos, John and Gloria built their own home and raised three beautiful daughters who he loved dearly. As a technical staff member at Los Alamos National Laboratory, John formulated and tested high explosives in many of the leading weapons systems America uses as a deterrent to other nations. John was a leading national expert in High Explosives. He holds several patents from his work at Los Alamos National Laboratory in high explosives. Given his expertise, John worked with Walt Disney World, in Florida, to create smokeless fireworks and the highly sought after brilliant blue colored fireworks that had eluded firework manufactures for decades. John retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory after 35 years. Gloria and John moved their family back to their hometown of Albuquerque. John consulted for a short time at Sandia National Laboratories before deciding he wanted to spend more time with his wife, Gloria, gardening and tending to his fruit trees and playing with his grandchildren.

John and Gloria spent 49 years together enjoying their life no matter what it brought them. John and Gloria where rarely seen without one another, always holding hands. They enjoyed their time together! He adored spending time with his granddaughters Maria and Amelia and his newly arrived grandson, John. God and family meant everything to him. John had one vice, chocolate. He had a sweet tooth for candy. He also loved to take his family on vacation. In early years, this meant trips to Walt Disney World. Later, his favorite spot became Maui where he enjoyed eating as much seafood as humanly possible.

In the early hours of the of the morning of June 28, 2024, John was called home, guided by his angels to Heaven. John's beautiful soul was commended into God's loving hands. John was survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Gloria Sanchez. He was a proud father to daughters, Amy Sanchez, Lilliana Sanchez and her husband Christopher O'Brien, Lisa Sanchez and her husband Charles Matthews-Salazar and their children Maria, Amelia and John Matthews. John was elated to have grandchildren- his face lighting up the minute he saw them. His grandchildren loved his "tickle monster" and he would tell them about each morning in the summer, "race you to the pool."

John came from a family of three children, his sister Sally Sanchez and her husband Will and his brother David Sanchez and wife Gerti. John had one niece, Elisia Jaramillo Luna and her husband John Luna, their son Jonathan Luna.

John will always be remembered as a kind, dependable, and loving person whose quiet presence spoke volumes. John enjoyed and strived to have a simple life. He depended on God for direction. John would often be heard saying "If God wants" meaning, whatever God willed was what was going to happen. John had a strong faith in God. He is looking down from heaven gently reminding us to trust in God's wisdom. John was a precious soul who will be greatly missed!

Pallbearers will be Charles Matthews, Christopher O'Brien, Aaron Apodaca, Christopher Apodaca, Adam Montoya, Edward Matthews.