Joseph "Jody" Louis Villa

Coach Joseph "Jody" Louis Villa died in the small hours with his wife, Virginia (Ginny), by his side November 24, 2025, after a short stay at Lovelace Medical Center. Full of kindness, our beloved husband, father, father-in-law, brother, uncle, coach, teacher, mentor, and friend was born in a wooden house in Madrid, New Mexico September 27, 1932, to Charlie Villa and Edith (Eda) Juliana Villa. When he was a toddler, his father Charlie, the foreman of the Cerrillos Coal Company mine, died. This shaped Jody profoundly.

Eda moved her family from the Ortiz mountains into Albuquerque in 1935, working at Woolworth's during Jody's schooldays. Resources were not plentiful, however, if you ever drove Central Avenue with Jody, you heard about the shops, nickel movies, homes, friends, family, and ball games that made up his youth. A piece of Albuquerque history he spoke about so often it could not be forgotten.

Moving between homes and family, Jody formed a close bond with an uncle and aunt, Joe and Margaret Juilana. Joe would later take Jody to his first professional football game at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco. Margaret remained a tender place for him throughout her life. Jody pieced together the best in people to fill the space his father left behind. He took inspiration and advice from those he worked, studied, and played sports with. Camaraderies, friendships, and team dynamics flourished; lessons that would become invaluable as an educator.

He played football (proud of his leather helmet), basketball (earning the nickname "way out yonder"), and baseball throughout his years at St. Mary's. He graduated in 1950 and maintained lifelong friendships with his peers. He attended the University of New Mexico, earning several degrees including Masters in Education, Counseling, and Educational Administration.

In 1956 he joined the Army and was stationed outside of Frankfurt, Germany, a place he and Ginny would visit nearly 60 years later. Working as company clerk, he sent money to help his mother and fund medical school. Upon returning in 1957, he was unable to secure enough for his tuition, which set in motion his career as a teacher and coach.

For anyone with the privilege of knowing Jody, this was undoubtedly his gift. He believed in the virtues of fairness and justness. He facilitated opportunities for others whenever possible. He always rooted for the underdog. Moving from elementary through to high school, Jody taught many subjects from biology to physical education to thousands of students. His own formative years in sports led to coaching. He worked across the Albuquerque area at numerous schools, notably Jackson Junior High, Rio Grande, West Mesa, Manzano, and Albuquerque High Schools.

In 1974, with his brother and others, Jody founded the High Noon Saloon, an endeavor that would enrich the rest of his life. Upon first seeing Ginny at a hiring event, Jody knew she was the one. He was intrigued by her spirit; Ginny by his experience, values and beliefs. They were married on April 1, 1976, in what some thought was an April Fools' Day joke and spent considerable time touring the desert southwest and Mexico during these years. In 1978, they had their only child, Adrienne Marie.

With a young family, Jody stayed youthful. Some of his many best years were during his tenure at Albuquerque High in the late 70s and 80s. The group of coaches and professionals Jody worked with, mentored, and learned from were good men he still calls friends. Jody defined what it meant to be a man, leader, listener, husband, and father. He trusted in what he knew to be right and did things his way.

Proud of Ginny's growing career, Jody was very supportive and happily took on more of a domestic role. Atypical for the time, he didn't mind because it allowed him to form a special bond with Adrienne. As Ginny's professional life opened, they traveled. Traveling for her work, for their pleasure, to visit their daughter, to watch sports of all kinds (a lifelong 9ers fan), to keep on moving until the end. Together they saw most of the United States, spent some nights in France, Spain, Austria, England, cruising Eastern Europe at Christmas time, and sometimes they just drove around.

Jody Villa was a special man that will be missed by many for reasons too numerous to count, each as special as their relationship with him. But for his immediate family, none more than the way he just brought "a little something sweet" to the room.

Jody is survived by his wife of 49 years, Virginia Stanley; his daughter, Adrienne Beyeler; son-in-law, Jonathan Beyeler; niece, Carla Villa and her children, Charley Bickel and Edie Bickel; nieces and nephews, Sue Meyer, Scott Meyer, Steve Stanley, and Chris Stanley, their significant others; his coaching buddies, friends, infamous stories, all of the lessons he taught; and three special canine companions.

At Jody's request no funeral is planned however in the spring there will be a Celebration of Life event. In lieu of flowers or other remembrances, please make a contribution in Jody's name to St. Jude's Children's Research hospital, P O Box 50,m Memphis, TN 38101.