Don James Svet

Don J. Svet died on August 12, at his home in Albuquerque, NM. He was 87 years old. Don was a resident of Albuquerque since 1959. Don was born on September 23, 1937, to Frank and Frances Svet, in Richwood, WV.

Don will be lovingly remembered by his wife Norma (Ordonez), they were married for 66 years. He is survived by one daughter, Donna Jean Miller (Tom), and one son, Frank James; grandchildren: Christian Miller (Raquel), Sean Miller, Frank Jr. and Samantha Svet; brother, John Svet (Jeanette), and sister, Nancy Burnett (Bill). Don also has paternal and maternal relatives in Slovenia. Don was predeceased by his parents.

There is an abundance of information verifying Don's greatness as a basketball and football player for Cowen WV High School. He was regularly featured by sports writers as to how he excelled in both of these sports. He was chosen All State in basketball and football. Also routinely noted in newspaper articles was that he also excelled in his studies. After graduation, Don received many letters from WV college coaches wanting him to join their team. He chose WV Tech University, and was granted a full scholarship. While small in size, it was a well known basketball college.

Alas, as Don phrased it: "I left it in 1956 over some disagreement about training rules. The coach had some old-fashioned thinking about smoking and drinking by his athletes. I countered that such things depended on the meaning of smoking and drinking. His interpretation prevailed and I left. Perhaps the need to interpret rules was my motivation for going to law school."

He then joined the U S Marines and was stationed at Parris Island. His former coach was at the Parris Island Marine Corps Base, and mentioned to their basketball coach: "You have one of my best basketball players stationed here!" Don then began playing basketball for the Parris Island Marine team. Again, newspaper articles were written about his past basketball skills, and his skills with the Marine basketball team. Don played basketball for the Parris Island Marine team until his honorable discharge.

Don's next success began in 1959, when after completing written and physical tests, he became part of the Albuquerque Police Department. During his first two years as an APD officer, he was one of the instructors at the Police Academy. Later on, he added to his personal history: "the youngest officer to be promoted to Sergeant status!" He loved being a police officer. Although he never learned to ride a bicycle, he became a skilled motorcycle cop.

In 1966, he and Norma returned to NM Highlands University, Las Vegas, NM. Both obtained their college degrees in 1968, Don graduated with honors. That same year, Don was awarded a full scholarship to the U of Maryland, at Baltimore. He loved this law school, but Don and Norma decided to return to NM, after he was accepted at the UNM Law School.

Don earned his law degree in 1971. Being at the top of his class, he was awarded The Order of The Coif.

After law school, Don served for a time as an Assistant City Attorney. He was an Assistant United States Attorney for twenty (20) years. In 1992, he was appointed United States Attorney by President George Bush. In 1993, he became a U.S. Magistrate Judge. The year 2003, coincided with his retirement and subsequent recall. The year 2012, was his final retirement as a U.S. Magistrate Judge.

Don's family loved his sense of humor, and often laughed at the stories he told about the tricks that his fellow police officers played on each other. To date, Norma has completed three full scrapbooks relating to Don's histories as a basketball and football player, an APD Sergeant, and his many years with the legal world.

Don's main hobbies were hunting, playing golf, roasting green chile, and being a Dallas Cowboys fan. He was an excellent handy man. He kept his garage in great order, and it was almost like a library. He knew exactly which tool was where, and where to find it. Being an excellent handy man, he completed almost any household task. His biggest project was perhaps the two bedroom, one bath, and kitchen hunting cabin that he and one of his best friends, Tom Hubeny built. They bought land around the Grants, NM area, close to the Ice Caves/Mal Pais land. Eventually, the U S Government wanted to buy it back. It then became one of their buildings for their employees.

Norma and the children remain in awe as to Don's manner of accomplishing legal feats, remaining in the public eye, and being very unaffected by his talents and triumphs. He has a framed saying with his reply to the agents who would be presenting a case to be prosecuted, when they asked: "what's the reason for that?" His reply was: "There's no reason for it, it's just our policy." Norma and the children think that when Don asks that question, God will reply: "There's no reason for it, it's just MY policy"

A Rosary and Prayer Service will take place on Friday, August 29, 2025, at 2:00pm at Daniels Family Funerals and Cremation. 7601 Wyoming Blvd.NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109

In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to support kindness in your own way, whether through a donation, a handwritten note, or a quiet act of generosity.