ALBUQUERQUE, NM — Dr. Alonzo C. ‘Al’ Atencio, 80, of Albuquerqu, N.M. died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.

He was born in Ortiz to Jose Rafael and Celina Atencio, grew up in Antonito and graduated from Antonito High School. He received his bachelors, masters and Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Colorado in Boulder and did sabbaticals in Sweden and Chicago at Northwestern University.

He retired from the University of New Mexico as assistant dean at the medical school and was very active and proud of his recruitment of minority students in the medical field. He was published extensively in the field of biochemistry.

A Korean War veteran, he served in the medical corps. Al was proud to have been raised a cowboy and had great memories of helping his family tend cattle on the Brazos. He loved to get away from his daily responsibilities and fish the Brazos River.

He was the oldest of nine children and his surviving siblings will miss him immensely.

His son, Alonzo; grandson, Luke Atencio; his parents; brother, Eddie and sister, Pauline, preceded him in death.

Survivors include his wife, Meg; his children and stepchildren, sons, Michael and Luke Edward; daughters, Debbie and Mia; daughter-in-law, Lucia Atencio; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; siblings, Rafael (Jean) Jr., Eloy (Carmen), David (Cindy) Atencio, Priscilla (Larry) Beaudin, Margaret (Gene) Cummins and Laura (David) Laux.

Funeral services were held in Albuquerque.

A memorial service will be held in Antonito in the near future.