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Herb Denish
On Friday, September 30, 2022, New Mexico lost its First 'First Gentleman'. Herbert Marshall Denish passed away from injuries and complications from a car accident. Herb was born Thursday, December 29, 1942, in Kansas City, MO, to Marshall and Madge Denish. While still a toddler, his family moved to Albuquerque, NM where the climate better suited his older sister, Barbara, who suffered from asthma.
Herb grew up in Southeast Albuquerque, attending Whittier Elementary, Wilson Junior High, and Highland High School where he graduated in 1961. He then graduated from University of New Mexico where he received a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1966. In 1968, at 25, he became the Assistant Director of the Model Cities program, part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society initiative. It was there he met and worked with many people who believed in the high hopes for Albuquerque. In 1971, he joined the City of Albuquerque as Assistant City Manager under then Chair of the City Commission, Pete V. Domenici. This helped to launch not only his knowledge of municipal government but was the start of many lifelong friendships that still remain. From 1968-1972, he served in the U. S. Army Reserves 156th Area support group. His big break came in 1974 when George Maloof invited him to join First National Bank of Albuquerque as Vice President to project manage the building and development of what is known today as First Plaza in the heart of downtown. This led to the formation of Herbert M. Denish and Associates in 1976, which operated until 2011. Some projects include Cottonwood Mall, ABQ Uptown, Mesa del Sol, High Desert, New Mexico Cancer Center, Mariposa, and The Classic Hotel (now known as Sheraton Uptown) and many more. Most recently Herb was honored to work with the Garcia family on their exciting vision for downtown Albuquerque including the revisioning of one of his first projects, First Plaza.
Herb’s hobby, avocation, and love was singing. As a child and young adult, he sang alongside his father in the choir at the First Baptist Church of Albuquerq u e . Many people will also remember him from his years in the Highland High School choir. During his UNM years, he enjoyed a short internship at the Santa Fe Opera and formed the Herb Denish Trio singing on KOB radio and for audiences in Albuquerque. For forty years he sang barbershop harmony with the New Mexichords and later the Duke City Sound. Most recently, he lent his voice to the inspirational NM Peace Choir.
Herb is survived by his wife of 38 years, former Lt. Governor Diane Denish and her children; Suzanne (Tony) Spencer, (Sarah) and Sara; eight darling grandchildren, his sister Barbara Moyer and husband Bob; nephew, Mark Moyer (Jennifer); Godsons, Peter Horan and Robert G. Taylor III; best friends, Tom Horan and Steven Spare; dear friend, Robert G. Taylor II; our Sunday breakfast crew and his sweet pup, Molly. Our family is forever grateful to all those at the city who worked with him over the years in the high hopes department, those who enriched his life through singing, and our friends, neighbors, and the medical team at UNMH who cared for him and us during the last few days of his life.
To celebrate the life of Herb, and to honor his love for singing, memorial gifts may be made to the NM Peace Choir at www. nmpeacechoir.org. Contributions may also be made to the UNM Music Chair’s Fund, to support choral scholarships and student enrichment. Gifts can be mailed to the UNM Foundation, 700 Lomas Blvd. NE Albuquerque, NM 87102 or made online at www.unmfund.org/ fund/cfa-music-chair/. As a lifelong Democrat one of the last things he did was request his absentee ballot knowing that the future and the coming vote was important. Please vote in his honor as well, early voting will be available statewide Saturday, October 22nd! Please visit our online guestbook for Herbert at www.FrenchFunerals.com.
FRENCH - University 1111 University Blvd. NE 505.843.6333 www.frenchfunerals.com
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