Hector Samaniego, a deacon who served at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Las Cruces, died in November 2009 after suffering from Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was 75.
Samaniego was born in El Paso and after high school he served in the U.S. Air Force. He earned a bachelor’s degree in media in 1959, followed by a master’s degree in public administration
After working for many years as chief of Labor and Management at White Sands Missile Range, he retired in 1992. That same year, Samaniego moved to Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico School of Law, graduating in 1996. He received honor in clinical law and the Margaret Keiper Dailey Award.
In 2003, Samaniego was ordained a deacon, which was his passion and true calling. In addition to his work at the cathedral, he served as assessor for the Marriage Tribunal of the Diocese of Las Cruces.
Those who had the pleasure of having him in their lives knew Samaniego was kind, compassionate, heartwarming, honorable, loving and patient.
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