Joseph A. Fidel

Joseph A. Fidel was born on October 14, 1923. He died on May 13, 2015 and lived a full and rewarding 91 years. He married Aurora (“Dora”) Baca on October 14, 1949. Joe died from natural causes and was surrounded by his family and loved ones at the time of his passing. He was preceded in death by his father, Abdoo Habib Fidel, his mother Latife (Hanosh) Fidel; his brother; A.H. Fidel, Jr.; his sister, Mary Fidel and his granddaughter, Jennifer Lea Smith. His loving, dedicated and unfaltering wife, Dora Fidel, survives him. He and Dora raised five daughters, Barbara Fidel, Donna Smith (married to Bruce Smith), Marcia Leyba (married to Joe Leyba), Annamarie Fidel-Rice (married to Ralph Rice), Mary Lee Wallick (married to Scott Wallick) and one son, Mark Fidel (married to Carol Smith Fidel). He leaves behind 12 grandchildren: Raymond, Elizabeth, Michael, Anna, Melissa, Joseph, Marc, Christine, Cynthia, Latife, Samuel and Josiah; and four great-grandchildren: Jasmine, Matthew, Emma and Ella. Joe attended the St. Joseph Mission School in San Fidel, New Mexico and graduated as the Salutatorian of his class of 20 students from St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe, NM. Joe was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology in 1990. He worked in a number of jobs in and around Grants. In 1942, Joe first began working for his cousin, George S. Hanosh, driving a dump truck and hauling fluorspar from mines south of Grants. He then worked in the parts department of the Navajo Chevrolet Company in Grants. After that, he started his own independent insurance agency, The Joe Fidel Agency. He had a number of agencies: Fidel and McBride, Fidel and Rouse, and finally Fidel and Moleres. He sold both insurance and real estate during his career. He also was one of the founders of Grants State Bank and the First National Bank of Grants. Joe led a series of successful political careers starting with the Valencia County Assessor (1950, 1952, 1962, 1964), the School Board (1953, 1959); Grants City Council (1953, 1956); in 1960, he ran for Mayor of Grants, but was defeated by his friend, Ted Howden; New Mexico State Senator, District 30 (1972, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2004; retired in 2006). He was instrumental, along with the late Walter K. Martinez, in the creation of Cibola County in 1981. In addition to the communities within his Senate District, Joe was a fervent supporter of educational institutions. New Mexico Tech in Socorro benefitted greatly from his political efforts and those of the late Ben Altamirano. The Grants Branch of New Mexico State University flourished during Joe’s tenure and continues to educate hundreds of students per year. Joe’s love of God, Family, City, County, State and Nation was in evidence in almost everything he did. He enjoyed fishing as much as he enjoyed a poker game with his friends. He was a true gentleman who showed compassion and respect for almost everyone who crossed his path. He was known to and loved by many and will be missed but not forgotten. The family thanks Rhonda Moore, April Ramirez, LeeAnn Burress and their staff at Quality Miners’ Care; the staff of Hospice of the Sandias for their unending dedication to Joe’s comfort. The family extends special thanks to Cecilia Farley for her loving and compassionate care to Joe. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made in Joe’s name to either the St. Teresa of Avila School in Grants, NM or the St. Joseph Mission School in San Fidel, NM. His service will be held at the St. Teresa of Avila Church in Grants, New Mexico on Saturday, May 30, 2015 at 2:00 p.m.