Mark Richard Leo-Russell

Our family is deeply saddened and shocked by the unexpected death of Mark Richard Leo-Russell; he was a mere 66 years old. Mark was born on January 31, 1959 in Amherst, New York to Louis Edward Leo and Dolores Jean (nee Cuedek) Leo. He is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived and greatly missed by his loving wife of 35 years Susan (nee Russell) Leo-Russell. Forever remembered by his siblings and their families - brother Paul (Kristi) Leo and Jennifer of Irvine, California; sister Kim (Mike) Kerrigan and Louis and Hannah of Amherst, New York; and brother Peter Leo and Jake of Pleasant Valley, New York.

Mark attended St. Leo's Elementary and Bishop Neumann high School in Amherst. He was a member of locally sponsored Boy Scout dens and troops earning the distinguished rank of Eagle Scout. At the same time, he enjoyed working behind the scenes of the school's theatrical productions and playing the clarinet in the school band.

Many of us know Mark as a polished writer and articulate speaker on so many topics throughout his career. With that in mind, we feel it best that Mark's own words detail his life accomplishments.

"I received a B.S. in Geology from NM Tech. After college I held a variety of programmer, systems administrator, analyst, GIS web development, technical training and management positions. I spent time working as a contractor for the US Dept of Defense at Kirtland AFB, and with the Indian Health Services in Albuquerque. For 13 years I worked for the Albuquerque Public School District where 1 was a System Analyst, QA Manager, Director of Database Architecture, and Interim Director of Technology Client Services.

Throughout much of that time I attended the University of New Mexico where I took post-bachelors and graduate classes in Geology, Computer Engineering, Mathematics, and Organizational Learning. Since Spring '22 I have been taking grad classes at NM Tech where I am studying critical and industrial minerals, exploration geochemistry, and related topics. Earlier this year [2023] I was accepted into the PhD program in Mineral Engineering at NM Tech where I will be doing my academic pursuits part-time while I continue to work full time at the Bureau.

I rejoined the New Mexico Bureau of Geology in 2021 as the Database Administrator where I am doing a variety of database migration and support tasks, data modeling, systems management, web development, and GIS projects While attending NM Tech [as an undergrad], I was the Student Curator at the Bureau's Mineral Museum for 2½ years, so taking the DBA position was a bit of a homecoming for me.

Although I had formally been away from Geology and Earth Sciences for many years, I Kept my hand in the discipline by traveling extensively throughout the Southwest US - hiking, exploring, studying and photographing most of the National Parks and many other monuments and state parks. Several years ago, I had the privilege of co-piloting a Cessna flight over the erupting Pưu O'o Vent, part of the East Rift Zone of the Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii."

Mark was a man of many interests, not just passing fancies, but intense, focused activities that consumed his curiosity, providing exciting recreational opportunities - photography, hiking, travel, collecting geologic specimens, ice hockey, skiing, scuba diving, listening to numerous music genres and cooking. His favorite quote encapsulates his determination, his perseverance in doing whatever endeavor he encountered. "Do or do not; there is no try," from Jedi Master, Yoda.

A memorial service remembering and celebrating Mark's life will be held on March 17, 2026, at St. Timothy's Church 211 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Time will be posted at a later time. 

In lieu of floral tributes, the family requests that charitable contributions be made to animal welfare or veteran support organizations of your choice to further Mark's impact beyond his years on this Earth.

We humbly and graciously thank you for the outpouring of love and support so many have offered during this difficult time.