Amarante Fresquez

Amarante Alfredo Fresquez

Amarante Alfredo Fresquez, PhD., was born on June 13, 1942 to Bonifacio and Lucila Fresquez in Arabela, NM and left this world for a new Horizon on Monday, May 4, 2020. He was adored and loved tremendously by his wife Dolores and his family. He will greatly be missed.

He is survived by his wife Dolores; four sons and families who have also achieved greatly in their life’s, Amarante Anthony and wife Patricia and their daughters Gabrielle and Brianna of Glendale, AZ; Alan Alfred of Las Cruces, NM; Donald Arthur and wife Kera, their daughters Ariana, Amara and Ayla of Chandler, AZ; and David Adrian and wife Jamie, their daughter Hannah and son Joshua of Las Cruces, NM. He is also survived by his brothers Melvin and Gayle, his son Greg, and Ernesto and Jeanette and their children Eric and Marisa; brother-in-law Joe Garcia and wife Sharmaine, son Anthony and daughter Sarah; his nephew Larry Rivera and nieces Joann, Loretta and Michelle.

His parents are both deceased along with a sister Martha and baby brother Michael as well as in-laws Joe and Bernarda Garcia and brother-in law Apolonio and Veronica Garcia.

Amarante came to Roswell at an early age and was educated in public and catholic schools. He graduated from St. Peter High School in 1961. During his childhood in Roswell, he worked as a paper boy, helped his uncles at their barbershops with chores and at the Arabela ranch. In his early teens, his brother Melvin and two friends Bruno “Dickie”, and Freddie began a band called the Blue Notes. They were very successful playing rock and roll and Mexican/Spanish music for the public. The band survived member changes but went up north and played in college and in northern cities and also in Roswell.

While attending New Mexico Highlands University Armarante earned his Bachelor and Masters degrees with majors in Biology and Chemistry. His desire was to become a pharmacist or dentist, but marrying Dolores, who had finished her college freshman year, he finished his Masters and worked as a teacher in Las Vegas. They were married in 1964 and moved to Roswell in 1968 where he took a position with a program at ENMU-Roswell Campus. The High School Equivalency program recruited and taught migrant and dropout students in order to get their high school diplomas. He also taught Biology at college at night. He applied for and was selected to receive a grant from the Kellogg Foundation to work on a Doctorate and chose the University of Arizona in Tucson as his institution. He earned his PhD. In 1976 and despite many offers to work elsewhere, he returned to Roswell as Dean of Students. The University of New Mexico was beginning a new campus in the Belen area and offered him the position of Administrator which he accepted. He later worked for the State Department of Education in Santa Fe. As the years progressed, he was a top administrator with public schools and eventually was given the position of Principal of University High School by Dr. Pomeroy, a friend and acquaintance as school administrators. He and his staff worked hard with potential dropouts and expectant mothers.

In 1999 Amarante became the first Hispanic Superintendent in Roswell and did a great job for the Roswell I.S.D. He retired at age 62 and loved working at the family ranch with orchard and cattle the sons had given him (longhorns).

Honorary pallbearers will be Bruno Otero, Melvin Fresquez, Freddie Kimbrell, Richard Vigil, Louie Brady, John Juarez and Ernie Coca who were musicians with the Blue Notes.

A rosary will be held at 8:30 am, Saturday, May 16, 2020 at St. Peters Catholic Church with mass following at 9:00 am. The family will be situated within the courtyard due to state restrictions. Others may use the parking lot adjacent to the courtyard.

Thanks to all who have called, sent cards, sent flowers, provided food, etc.

Amarante would cherish donations to the Poor Clare Monastery, 809 E. 19th St., Roswell, NM 88201, http://poorclares-roswell.org. in his memory.