Retta Kay Ward

Retta Kay Ward, Cabinet Secretary of Health for the State of New Mexico, passed away on March 3, 2016, in Santa Fe, NM, due to an aortic dissection. Born May 4, 1953, in Hagerman, New Mexico, to Kenneth and Naomi Ward, Retta was the second of four children, and the gem of her hometown. From yearbook editor to homecoming queen, Retta was a natural leader with stellar intellect, graduating as valedictorian. She obtained her undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico in Health Education, and later earned her Master of Public Health degree from the University of Arizona. During her extensive professional career, Retta worked in the corporate world as a manager with the Hertz Corporation in Albuquerque, Chicago and New York — eventually serving as the head of Operations Training for Hertz Rent-a-Car, overseeing the corporation’s 14 training centers located throughout the country. After leaving the private sector, Retta educated thousands of middle and high school students in Albuquerque, NM, and Cave Creek, AZ, in health and science. She also managed the Arthritis Program for the Arizona Department of Health Services. In 2011, Retta returned to New Mexico to serve as the Cabinet Secretary of Aging and Long Term Services, launching the successful statewide healthy aging initiative called “Know Your Numbers, Change Your Numbers, Change Your Life.” In 2013 she was tapped for her dream job, Cabinet Secretary of Health, where she was able to share her passion for public health and work on improving the wellbeing of all New Mexicans. Retta was compassionate, positive and a humble leader beloved by all who knew her. She exuded warmth and an infectious passion for healthy living; known for tracking her daily steps on her Fitbit, climbing the stairs whenever possible and even lifting weights while on conference calls. Retta was a loving mother, daughter, sister, and friend to all who knew her. She leaves behind her two children, Lauren and Alec Stapp; her siblings, Ken Ward, Angie Ward Pratt and husband Richard, Priscilla Lowery and husband Brent; and her nieces and nephews Carly and Caitlyn Pratt; Kurt, Jillian, and Kami Lowery. A public memorial service for Retta Ward will be held on Wednesday, March 9th at 11 a.m. in Santa Fe, NM, at the Kiva Chapel of Light - Rivera Family Funeral Home: 417 East Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505. The memorial will be followed by an informal service with the family from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. during which mourners and well-wishers can visit with the family and share stories with each other. If you would like to honor the memory of Retta with a gift, the family asks that you make a charitable donation to the “Against Malaria Foundation”: https://www.AgainstMalaria.com/rettaward or a charity of your choice. Retta dedicated her life to public health, which is why we chose the Against Malaria Foundation, a health-related organization that is the top-rated charity worldwide by GiveWell.org.