Joseph E. Lovato

JOSEPH E. LOVATO April 4, 1932 – December 2, 2024

Joe Lovato, 92, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on December 2, 2024. 

Joe is preceded in death by his wife, Prescilla; sons, Jerry, Donald, and Leo Lovato; parents Jose and Rafaelita Lovato; sisters and their spouses, Lily Gonzales (Mike), and Dolores Lopez (Steve)

.A devoted husband, father, grandfather, mentor, and friend to many. Joe committed his life to his family and teaching. He was a man of God and was strong in his faith. He was born in Santa Fe where he made his home with the love of his life, and wife of more than 69 years, Prescilla.

Joe was trilingual, born of deaf parents, his first language was sign, then spoke Spanish, and learned English as he entered public school. At the age of 14, he started working at the Santa Fe Boys Club, which is when he discovered his love of teaching, as he supervised children that were younger than himself.

At the age of 17, Joe joined the military and was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict. After he was honorably discharged, he then pursued his education and received his bachelor’s degree from St. Michael’s College in Education. Joe started his lifelong teaching career in 1958 in special education, located in a small house behind B.F. Young Junior High School. Four years later, he went on to teach 6th grade and coached basketball at Salazar Elementary school where he taught for 13 years, and swimming for the Santa Fe Dolphins; thereafter, he became a 6th grade teacher at Kearney Elementary school. It was there that he was nominated for a national award of “Outstanding Teacher of the Year.” During this time, Joe also helped start the first GED instructional program at the Santa Fe County Detention Center. He also worked with SER-Santa Fe Jobs for Progress (SER Career Academy) after his retirement from the Santa Fe Public Schools in 1989. There he worked with students that were at risk of not completing their education. He worked side-by-side with his students, assisting them to develop the skills needed to complete their GED, and to go on to higher education or the work force. Joe loved teaching and there was not a day that went by where he would not meet up with a student, no matter where he was. His students always remembered the great times they had in his class, and he was always remembered fondly.

Joe, together with his wife, Prescilla, always had a love of children, and they went on to have 11 children of their own. Joe was a dedicated husband and father, and enthusiastically supported his numerous grandchildren, as well as the neighborhood kids.

Joe was a proud 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Nuesta Conquistadora, council 16601. He was devoted to his Lord, Jesus Christ, and was a very spiritual man, and together with Prescilla, they passed this on to their children and grandchildren. Joe was a man of God, and is loved dearly, and will be deeply missed. 

Joe is survived by his children, Andy (Anhara), Joe (Patricia), Patrick (Louann), Ted (Clarissa), Anna (David), Larry, Carlos (Jennifer), Lisa (Andrew); grandchildren, Todd (Mariann), Nicholas, Juniper (Laurent), Everette (Star), Jessica, Jerome, Dominic, Cassaundra (Ronnie), Joseph, Jared, Arianna (Felicia), Miranda, Devonne (Antonio), Loryn, David (Stormee), Andrew, Steven, Gabriel, Christopher, Savannah, Juliana, Analise, Breeana; daughter-in-laws, Margarette (Don deceased) and Elizabeth (Jerry deceased), and his brother, Ruben Lovato (Loretta), numerous great grandchildren, relatives, friends, and extended family. Joe will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

Rosary and Mass services will be held at San Isidro Parish Center on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, beginning at 9:00 am, with burial services at 12:30 pm at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.