Elijio Jose Pino Jr.

ELIJIO JOSE PINO was born June 30, 1927 in Albuquerque New Mexico to Elijio Jose Pino Sr and Adela Perez. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Clorinda Martinez and Leona Garcia. Junior attended Albuquerque High School. He then went to work for the Del Monte Fruit Company where he played baseball. He was a pitcher. He was then drafted into the US Army during the Korean Conflict. He served 4 years as a auto mechanic. He was very proud of his Service to his country. After his stint in the army he returned to Albuquerque and became an auto mechanic for a local dealership. He later drove autos for the dealership across the country. Junior was an avid baseball fan. He especially loved the NY Yankees and later the Texas Rangers. He also loved University of New Mexico football and basketball. He attended many games. In his later years he loved watching old westerns in black and White. But on Sunday the TV was tuned to the Cowboys game. He attended one Cowboys & Texas Ranger games. He later said it was a dream. He enjoyed a McDonald’s hamburger, or a great meatloaf, mashed potatoes and anything sweet. Veggies were not his favorite, especially green veggies. However, nothing compared to a Modelo’s tamale or Christmas posole or a great pot of beans and chile with tortilla or sopapilla Chocolate was a weakness for him. Piñion is a pine nut native to NM. It is very popular this time of year. It needs to be roasted and that is another story. Nobody could roast piñion like Jr. Everyone brought their nuts to him to roast. Always perfect.

Joe was a man of Deep faith. He attended mass regularly serving as an Usher on Sundays. His love for San Ignacio Church was immeasurable. He especially loved the San Ignacio fiestas. The fiestas celebrate San Ignacio. He diligently cleaned the yard and put up the altar tables and arch. He put up the arco on the street for the procession to pass through. Our family home was next door to the church so we were the first altar to receive the matachines, the bishop and the Queen. We always had a large family gathering during the Fiestas. There are special foods that are prepared for the fiestas. He prided himself in his later years of walking the complete procession, Always with his hat. Everyone bought tons of hats for him but he always went back to the dreaded blue hat that many have said was disgusting.

Junior was also diligent about preparing the luminariars for Christmas. These are Brown paper Sacks half filled with dirt, a velita . You put them on the graves of your loved ones and around your home. So there are hundreds that are need to be filled. They are lit on Christmas Eve. It is a tedious task but always done with tradition and love. Mount Calvary (the local Catholic cementary) is one of the most beautiful places on Christmas Eve. He filled luminarias for the church, for his home and for his sisters’ homes. He kept them lit through the night. New Mexico in December is freezing but the light of his luminarias are the warmth of family and Christmas.

Jose was also the family mechanic. He loved his 57 Chevy, salmon Pink, dual skirts, dual everything. It was NEVER dirty, always shiny. All the grandchildren spent time waxing his car at the cemetary. Yes, the cemetary because it was shady there. THE 57 WAS HIS PRIDE AND JOY. He kept Loretta’s car, REggie’s car always running. He often chauffered all the grandkids to where they needed to be.

Lastly, Junior loved his mother dearly. He lived with her his entire life albeit the time in the army. He took her to the Santuario de Chimayo yearly. That is a holy place for New Mexicans. It is located outside of Espanola, NM.

Junior was born in the house that his father built and lived his life there until his recent illness. Three year ago he had to come to Texas. He and Alice were living independetnly in their home their dad built but needed more care. Both were beginning to have health issues. . Junior died in the VA Sam Rayburn Community Living Center. He recently underwent surgery that amputated two toes. That did not help his health at all. The doctors then advised that removing the leg was his only alternative. He courageously declined. He was a man that was not afraid of death because his faith was that strong. He went home to his family and his God on Monday, December 17. He is rejoicing in the glory of God. He is survived by his sister Alice Gutierrez, nephew Reggie Guttierrez and nieces, Mary Lopez, Raymie Vigil . Donna Garcia and Loretta Williams. Also surviving are great nephews, Ron James Garcia, Orlando Garcia, Mark Williams, Lanny Garcia Jr, Randy Garcia, great nieces Toni Mandl and Ann Angello. Grest great nephew Nolan Williams and great great niece, Catherine Williams.