George Theodore Mauro

George Theodore Mauro passed away on Sunday, March 17, 2019.

George Theodore Mauro was a kind and thoughtful man, loved dearly by his family and friends. He was born in Walsenburg, Colorado November 8th, 1923. George was an artist and outdoor enthusiast, cowboy, tracker, and especially enjoyed hunting elk in Chama. He enjoyed painting landscapes and wildlife in oil and watercolor and making abstract designs with pen, using black on white and vibrant colors.  He had a beautiful voice, loved to sing and serenade others and sang in a quartet in his early years.

George was married to his wife, Anne Tillotson Teer,  for 45 years. His parents were Francesco “Frank” Savero Mauro and Rosario “Rose” Teresa Niccoli. He had five siblings, Philip Mauro, Francis Kilmurray, Josephine Kopine, Frank Mauro Jr.,  Gerald Mauro and Ernest Mauro. George had one daughter, Joanne Brown (husband Russell Brown), five grandchildren-Maria Borges, Cassia Geiger, Josh Brown, Nate Brown and Toby Brown, and five great-grandchildren-Lily Borges, Zen Borges, Evelyn Geiger, Adrianna Nunes-Viana and Kilinoe Brown. He also had three godchildren: Georgia Kay Male, Mike Mauro and Kali Hammett.

He enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, traveling often to California to visit them. Some of his other favorite travel destinations were Yellowstone and Alaska.

George spent many special occasions with his extended family in New Mexico including birthday and holiday celebrations. He had fond memories of his time with family members Phyllis and Duane Conrad, Don Conrad, Mike and Angelina Mauro and their children Zak and Mariah, Lynn and Bill Leninger and their children Grace, Jo Ellen and Kajun, and Mike and Anita Scarborough.

For many years George helped manage his family’s business, Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs. During his time at Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, he welcomed thousands of guests and was well known  for his warm personality and sense of humor. He served as a volunteer firefighter in Ojo Caliente.

Remarkably, George began his second career after his 60th birthday, working as a New Mexico State Park ranger at the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque. He made many friends there and enjoyed spending time outdoors. He completed numerous art projects for the Nature Center, focusing on local wildlife.  Several of his paintings are on display at the Rio Grande Nature Center, as well as the Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center.

George loved Native American art, especially from the Southwest and enjoyed the photography of Edward Curtis. He loved New Mexican and Italian food and was well known for his Italian pasta sauce. Two of his favorite places to eat out at were Duran’s Central Pharmacy and Bucca di Beppo Italian Restaurant. He enjoyed watching sports games, especially football (the Patriots were his favorite team) because he was on the football team in high school. He also enjoyed westerns, classic movies and 1940’s big band music.

In the last two years of his life he was grateful for the loving care provided by the Jojola family and especially looked forward to going to Doodle’s basketball games. His visits to their ranch where he heard the elk bugle brought him great happiness.

He will be missed by all of his family and friends.

From the Jojola family:

For the two years that we have cared for George he was the utmost kindest, caring, respectful and very loving man. He was a “Grandpa” and “Georgie” to us all. George will be greatly missed by the Jojola Family as well. Thank you and it has been a pleasure caring for Mr. George Mauro.

From his nephew and godson Mike Mauro:

“World’s Best Freakin Uncle”

From Maria:

Dear Grandpoo, I will always remember spending time with you at the Nature Center and doing artwork with you in Albuquerque. We always enjoyed going to the Dinosaur Museum with you and eating at Duran’s. You were a great storyteller and had an amazing memory. I will always remember hearing about how you saw the Rio Grande Gorge bridge being built. I enjoyed all of our Christmases together, singing Christmas carols with the whole family. I remember you singing Santa Lucia to me and how you would speed up for the speed bumps in your Jeep and then say, “Ooompah!” I remember how happy I was to hug you at the airport when you and Granny would fly to California. Thank you for all of the memories and love.

From Cassia:

I’m so happy that we were able to share our love of aviation together, and that you at least got to meet one of my daughters. Adrianna would have loved to meet you.

From Russell:

I have so many memories of going to Duran’s for dinner with you, George. Everyone there was always so happy to see you...more like going to a family reunion than to a restaurant.  You always opened up your home to us whenever we came to visit. I especially enjoyed the relaxed evenings watching a movie with you or watching the college football playoffs and Bowl games. You know. Those games that went on for days and days. Our trips to Yellowstone, Yosemite and excursions to Bosque del Apache are always fresh in my memory, remembering how much you loved being out in nature. I’m grateful that you were a part of my life for so many years.

From Joanne:

Thank you for always being positive and supportive throughout my life. You were always thoughtful, kind and generous. Thank you for providing a safe haven for us. Thank you for bringing happiness to our lives. You will be dearly missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in George's name to:

Friends of the Rio Grande Nature Center

2901 Candelaria, NW

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107

http://www.rgnc.org/Membership.pdf

(505) 344-7240

Services are pending.