Johnny Ruben

Lucero

John Ruben Lucero

Our loving and beloved “Johnny” passed away November 2, 2026. His clever sense of humor, kindness, ingenuity, intelligence and devotion will be missed.

He was born May 8, 1944 in Espanola, NM, to Cipriano and Ella Padilla. He was adopted by Ella’s sister, Mary Griego Lucero and Juan Isidro Lucero who lived in Santa Fe, NM. He attended Carlos Gilbert Elementary and graduated in 1962 from Santa Fe High School. He played the coronet in Band and was a member of a trio band that performed for school assemblies. He was also in a band with high school friends.

John learned to work on cars with his high school friends who formed a group called the Hightailers. He would earn extra money servicing friends’ and teachers’ cars. John always had a love of cars and car racing. He participated in Timed Trials in this 72 GMC short-bed truck at the Albuquerque racetrack and won MANY trophies and 5 Championships.

He had an aptitude and enjoyed his high school drafting classes. His drafting experience led to his first job: a position with the NM State Highway Department Traffic Division. That lead to a Road Survey Crew position, and another in Road Design Drafting and Office Manager.

John married Maria Conchita Marquez on February 19, 1966. They moved to Albuquerque while he was with the Road Survey Crew because it was a better departure point for traveling to projects. He began to tire of the travel so he took the exam to work for the for the FAA, but soon discovered there was little flexibility to have time with his family.

He earned his real estate certificate from the University of New Mexico and worked in real estate for the Vernon Realty for a year.

In 1970 he secured a position with Albuquerque City Planning & Zoning Department. Later, he worked for Bernalillo County and became the Building, Planning & Zoning Director until his retirement. John wanted Albuquerque to continue to evolve as a beautiful city, so he instituted requirements for landscaping and irrigation to keep it alive. He also required adequate parking for new projects.

After retiring he was a zoning and subdivision consultant with clients such as Conoco/Phillips, US West, Qualcomm, Sprint and Cricket.

He was elected to the State of New Mexico Public Employees Retirement Association Board as a retiree representative after retirement (1997-2001). He also served on the Middle Rio Grande Council of Governments; Member (1983-19930, Chair of the Transportation Coordinating Committee (1991). He served on the City of Albuquerque’s Subdivision Review Board: Member (1978-1983), Chair (1982). He also served as the President of the New Mexico Supervisor's and Professionals Association; President (1981-1986). He was also a board member of the American Society for Public Administration and Treasurer; and American Planning Association.

He also ran for Bernalillo County Assessor in 2002. “Yo Quiero Lucero” was the campaign slogan. Conchita was glad he didn’t win.

John was a good provider, he was always working another job on the side. He and colleague Rexford King formed Black and Brown Brokerage. They bought and fixed properties to sell. Their wives, Pat and Conchita, worked alongside them on these weekend projects. He was also a wedding photographer for many years with Chapparal Studios.

John earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from University of Albuquerque while holding a full-time job.

He enjoyed traveling with the family and was an excellent trip planner. In 2007 he and Conchita went to Spain for 23 days driving to many of the cities, towns and villages that their ancestors were from. They both traced their lineage back to the ancestor Geronimo Marquez, from Cadiz, Spain, who served as one of the Captains to Juan de Oñate for the exploration and settlement of Nueva Espana.

As a family they enjoyed snow skiing, soccer and Scouting. He and his son Dean were active members of the NM Trials Association, a discipline of motorcycle riding focused on balance, control, and precision rather than speed. The sport originated in Catalonia, Spain and is more widely known in Spain than the US. They both won many trophies.

John and his daughter Lynne shared a love of music and classical guitar.

Other accomplishments:

Inducted into La Orden de Isabel la Catòlica of Spain for their efforts to educate, preserve and celebrate the contributions of Spain and our ancestors. The proclamation, signed by the King of Spain Juan Carlos I, and medals is one of the country’s highest honors.Founding member of the New Mexican Hispanic Culture Preservation League. Lobbied for proper representation of the Hispanic settlers in NM school texts. Authored column “Cities of Spain" for the monthly NMHCPL Newsletter. He was also event photographer. NMHCPL helped lobby with Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz Jr.’s mission for an annex for the NM History Museum to display of some of the many colonial artifacts ensuring it could preserve and showcase New Mexico’s rich heritage. Their success resulted in the Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz Jr. Sala (wing).Member at large of the Hispanic Geneological Research Center (HGRC)Attained the designation of Primeras Familias: Oñate Period 1598-1680 from the Hispanic Geneological Research Center.Member of the Sons of the American Revolution under the ancestor of Jose Esquibel. He also served as Treasurer. They dressed in their colonial soldier uniforms and presented the US and NM State flags at events and schools.Joined the Canary Islands Descendants Association, San Antonio Chapter, in recognition of his ancestors and Spanish influence and contributions in Texas.Founding member of CARTA 2003-2009 (El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro).Served on the City of Albuquerque’s History Committee for the Tricentennial and Quatro Centenario celebrations.Member of the Albuquerque Founder’s Day committee and Albuquerque Sister Cities.Active in El Paso’s Twelve Travelers Memorial of the Southwest, during the creation of “The Equestrian” World’s Largest Equestrian Statue, located at the El Paso International Airport.Participated in the Anza Society, which acknowledges the contributions of Juan Batista de Anza Bezerra, Governor of the province of Nueva Espana and the colony of Santa Fe, NM.Former member of Toastmasters International.Member of La Salle Cadillac Club, New Mexico Chapter and served as Treasurer.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Conchita Marquez de Lucero, daughter Lynne and husband Michael Arendall; his sisters Phyllis Taylor and Dolores Sly, brother Leonard Maez and wife Judy, half-sister Consuelo Lopez, and grandson(godson) Alex Sloan and wife Miranda, and many other family members and in-laws.

He was preceded in death by his son Dean Marcus Lucero and wife Teri Sloan; Parents; Juan Isidro Lucero, Mary Griego Lucero; Cipriano and Ella Padilla; brother; Leroy "Sonny" Padilla; sisters; Evangeline Felter and Judy Foster, and many other family members and in-laws.

We would like to thank the team at Nevaeh Hospice and Life Spire in Rio Rancho staff for caring for him with professionalism, skill, kindness and dignity in his final days.

Thank you to his loving family and friends who helped make his life journey an interesting and fulfilling one.

In lieu of flowers or other gifts please consider a donation to World Central Kitchen: https://wck.org

1. We will inter his ashes at Gate of Heaven on Wyoming & Paseo Del Norte @ 2pm Friday, November 20th in the main building, west wing, corridor D.
2. 7999 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109-5553