Rozier Edmond Sanchez

Devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather returned to the Lord December 22, 2017.  Born in Socorro, New Mexico in 1931, Judge Sanchez attended Mt Carmel E. S., and Socorro H. S. for one year, before transferring to St Mary’s H.S. in Phoenix where he played the trumpet in a dance band.  He then attended Loyola University, Los Angeles, CA on a music scholarship and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Political Science in 1954.

Judge Sanchez served in USAF 1954-1957 and retired as a Major in USAF Reserves. In 1959 he graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. receiving a Bachelor of Law and then a Master of Law.  After 13 years in private practice, he served as a Second Judicial District Court Judge for 20 years. Judicial accomplishments include: establishment of civil commitment hearing procedures for the mentally ill at the University of New Mexico Hospital; establishment of the Court Clinic for criminal and domestic relations evaluations.  He spearheaded the creation of a domestic relations division in the Second Judicial District and was instrumental in the establishment of a comprehensive judicial education program and obtaining federal and state funding for the Court Clinic and Judicial Education programs. Judicial activities also included chairman, Judicial Education and Training Advisory Committee 1991 to 2013; member NM Judicial Standards Commission l988-93; Chairman Southwest Judicial Conference Committee 1985, 1988; Chairman NM Judicial Conclave Committee 1983-92; Federal Land Commission. Awards have included Outstanding Judge Award by Albuquerque Bar Association for “outstanding contribution made to his profession-” -1990; Distinguished Judicial Service Award presented by NM Bar Association-1993 for his “long and exemplary service to the citizens of NM”; State Bar of New Mexico Outstanding Contribution Award-1994; American Bar Association Judicial Education Award-1997;  State Bar of NM Professionalism Award-2000; NM Distinguished Public Service Award - 2002; Outstanding Family in Philanthropy- 2007; Justice Seth Montgomery Distinguished Judicial Service Award-2014. He was further honored by having the Judicial Education Center at UNM named the Rozier E. Sanchez Judicial Education Center. Judge Sanchez also received the La Hispanidad 500 Years of Hispanic Achievement Award for Outstanding Hispanic Achievement - 1992 and the Hispanic National Bar Association Medal “for Commitment to the Preservation of Civil and Constitutional Rights for All Americans”, 1988 and 1998. Community activities include: 46 years as a member and officer of Sandia Civitan Club, former president of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe Board of Education, former member Board of Directors of Boy Scouts of America, past president of Annunciation Parish Council and Holy Name Society, former member and officer of the Family Counseling Service, former Archdiocese of Santa Fe lay delegate to NM Inter-Church Agency.

City of Albuquerque Open Space Volunteer. Judge Rozier Sanchez is survived by the love of his life, married for 61 years, Victoria. Five children: Mary Sanchez-Lanier (Glen) and their children Michael (Meladi), Suzanne Sheehe (David), Sarah; Carol Johansen (Jim) and Rachel, Christopher; Robert (Heather) and Patrick, Nicolas; Catherine Praiswater (Michael); Linda Vigil (Ramon) and Carmen; and 2 great-grandsons Maximus Glen Sheehe and Grant Rozier Lanier. His parents Julius and Priscilla Fortune Sanchez predeceased him as well as his brother Archbishop Robert Fortune Sanchez. Rozier’s gifts to the world were many, but the greatest were his love of family and the law.  He will be missed but his love remains. Visitation will be Thursday, December 28, 2017 at 6:00 p.m. with Rosary following at 7:00 p.m. at FRENCH –Wyoming.  Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of  Annunciation, 2532 Vermont NE  on Friday, December 29, 2017, at 8:30 a.m., with Msgr. Bennett Voorhies,  Msgr. Richard Olona,  Rev. Timothy Martinez, Rev. Juan Mendez and Rev. Thomas Mescall.  Interment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s School, c/o Carol Johansen, 224 7th St NW, Albuquerque, 87102.