Francisco Antonio Sisneros

1948-2021

Francisco Antonio Sisneros, age 72, of Casa Colorada, New Mexico, passed away at his home on May 1, 2021. Francisco was born in Abó Viejo, Torrance County, New Mexico, next to the old mission ruins of San Gregorio which are now part of the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. His family has roots there going back to the mid-1600s. Francisco graduated from a Catholic seminary in Santa Fe (1966). He spent several years studying and working throughout Latin America. He studied at the UNM Centro Andino in Quito, Ecuador (1969-1970). He later served two years as a Peace Corps volunteer in Honduras (1971-1973). Francisco wrote and edited in the Bilingual Institute at the University of New Mexico (1974–1975), and for several years supervised a bilingual materials research and development program at the University of Arizona in Tucson (1975-1981). Francisco was a school administrator with the Socorro, New Mexico schools (1981-2001).

Francisco was a devoted husband and father, retired educator, and a life-long student of New Mexico history and culture. As time has permitted over the last 42 years, he has researched ancestors of the Hispanic families of New Mexico. His primary research interests were in lesser-known figures of seventeenth, eighteenth, and early nineteenth-century New Mexico. He was a co-founder of the Hispanic Genealogical Research Center of New Mexico and a senior research associate with the center. He was also affiliated with the New Mexico Genealogical Society and the Historical Society of New Mexico. He has written over sixty articles based on primary records on New Mexico history and on the origins of the Hispanic families of New Mexico. Days before his passing, he published a book of his childhood memoirs, A Boy from Abó Viejo.

Francisco was preceded in death by his parents, Antonio Sisneros (1918-1991) and Maria Aurora Garcia (1918-1986), infant son Francisco Jr., and sister Maria Eloisa Sisneros.

He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Inez DelValle Sisneros, daughters; Maria Andrea Sisneros Wichman and husband Stuart, and Rebeca Sisneros Saiz and husband Johnny Ray, grandchildren; Esteban Sisneros, Anja Wichman, and Aurora Saiz, siblings; Toby Sisneros and wife Elvia, Orlydia Sisneros, Inez Chavez and husband Jake, Teresa Ruiz and husband Maurilio, Michael Sisneros and wife Lilia, Judy Critchfield and husband Douglas, and many beloved uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, cousins, and dear friends.

Our family is sincerely grateful to the medical staff and nurses at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Presbyterian Kaseman Hospital, particularly to Dr. Yang Wang, and to the ICU staff and nurses at Rust Prebyterian Hospital for their exceptional care and loving support.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, private services will be limited to close family and friends.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Francisco’s giving nature, please consider donating to the American Cancer Society or your favorite charity.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., (505)864-4448, where an online guest register is available at www.noblin.com.

El Defensor Chieftain