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Pineda -- The family of Raymond Pineda, Sr., longtime resident of Albuquerque, sadly announces that Raymond, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, great-uncle, brother, teacher, mentor and friend, joined his beloved wife, Emily, in the arms of God this past Sunday, February. 23rd. Raymond, most recently in residence at the Montebello on Academy Healthcare Center, in Albuquerque, died peacefully, early Sunday morning. The family wishes to express its deepest gratitude for the compassionate, wonderful care given to Raymond during his brief time at Montebello. It is almost beyond words to describe the graciousness and tenderness with which they cared for him. The family would also like to thank French Mortuary, and Mr. Douglas Chartier in particular for their caring and reassuring assistance as we prepared to say goodbye. This last December 24th, Raymond turned 91 years old. They were a remarkable 91 years, marked by the two great wars, incredible social change, and over sixty-five years spent with Emilia Holguin Pineda, his wife and mother of their four surviving children. Emilia, or Emily as she was best known, preceded him in death in August of 1994. Theirs was an enduring relationship, one that stood the tests of time, adversity and infirmity. At one point, as Emily was being taken away by the ravages of age that eventually took her life, Raymond steadfastly refused to have her taken from their home to nursing care. Declaring instead that he had made a promise to her in marriage, to always care for her, and that only death could make him abandon that promise. It is a great joy to know that he is once more united with her. Raymond spent virtually his entire adult career in the practice of Pharmacy. Until very recently, when age made it impossible for him to travel to the needed seminars, Raymond held the distinction of having the greatest number of years as a licensed pharmacist in the state of New Mexico. He loved his profession, and credited it with his ability to care for his family and educate his children, through good times and bad. His greatest pride lay in the fact that the means provides by his professional allowed him to see that all of his children held college degrees. For him, it was a mark of great distinction, coming as he did from humble beginnings, and growing up in The Depression. Raymond's earthly journey began, in El Paso, Texas, on December 24th, 1911. The son of Jose Pineda, and Paula Diaz Pineda, he was the oldest of their seven children. Growing up in the years after World War I, and reaching young adulthood in the years of the Great Depression, employment opportunities were limited. But the chance meeting that brought him together with Emily would change his life. Together, the daughter of an aristocratic, ranching family from northern Mexico, and the son of a south El Paso family, blended their two worlds, their divergent experiences, and built a family and Raymond's career. Together, as Raymond would later say, Emily's quiet ambition and his unceasing energy took them through a course of study that would lead to his obtaining a license to practice pharmacy in the states of Texas and New Mexico. Raymond's first contact with the profession began as delivery boy for El Paso's Rio Grande Drug Co., making deliveries on his bicycle. The encouragement of Rio Grande's owner, Mr. McDowell, recognizing Raymond's quick mind and hard work, led him to his independent study of pharmacy and the science needed to practice. But it was the hours of work, Emily at his side, which led to his passing the Pharmacy Board Exam, and his goal of a profession, a first for his family. During the years of World War II, Raymond and Emily started, owned and operated Alameda Drugs, in downtown El Paso. But first, they started a family. Their daughter Emily Martha, sons Raymond II, and Peter Spencer, were all born in El Paso, even as Raymond, Sr. and Emily helped raise the young children of Emily's deceased older sister. They, in effect, raised two families: one made up of their nieces and nephews, and another made up of their own three small children. In 1949, faced with the struggles of running a small business in the aftermath of World War II, they left El Paso to seek a new life for themselves and their growing family. Together, they set out to build a new life in Albuquerque, New Mexico, and it was in Albuquerque, the next year, that their son Charles Armand was born. Once in Albuquerque, Raymond worked and developed a following of customers and friends that started with his long time position as pharmacist at Payless Drugs, at the Payless store in downtown. From his place at the pharmacy counter, Raymond would befriend the elite and poor of Albuquerque alike. Later, after his friends and employers, Abe and Walter Cohen, sold Payless, Raymond moved to a position with the Skaggs/Alberston organization, from which he retired in 1974. And through it all, his friends and customers went with him. Even in retirement, the calls continued to come in from various pharmacies around Albuquerque. They were seeking his assistance as a relief pharmacist, or calling for customers who were asking him to mix up this special cream, or that special couch syrup: items that he had long tailored and prepared for the individual health needs of his customers. To Raymond, they were more than just store owners, or customers, they were his friends and they needed his help, and he was glad to heed their call. He also relished the chance to be out with people, and to serve them. Raymond was happiest, and he was at his best, in giving to others. He loved a crowd, blossomed at a party, yet never hesitated to help a lone stranger in need. His gifts were his humor, his fascination with and affection for mankind, his love of his profession, and his dedication to his family. He was enormously proud of his children, his grandchildren, and the lives and families that were built on the foundation he and Emily provided. We will miss him. We will miss the ruckus that he always caused wherever people were gathered. We will miss his"bigger-than-life" way of affecting us all. And we will miss just knowing he was there. God's speed to you Papa, Pop, Daddy, Dad, Grandpa, Grimpy, Uncle, Tio, Raymond, Ray, Mundo. God's speed and thank you. Raymond is survived by daughter, Emily M. Ederer and her husband Charles J. Ederer of Albuquerque; their children Robert G. Ederer, his wife Wendy, their children Matthew and Leanna; Charles D. Ederer, his wife Cassie Ederer and their son Alexander, of San Francisco, California; sons, Rayond Pineda II, his wife Mary B. Pineda, of Santa Fe, and their daughter Ana Cristina Pineda, of Flagstaff, Arizona, Peter S. Pineda of Albuquerque, Dana Pineda of Santa Fe, and their son Joshua Pineda of Albuquerque, and Charles A. Pineda, his wife Claire B. Pineda, and their children, Simon T. Pineda, Erin R. Pineda and Lauren M. Pineda of Santa Fe; sisters, Irene Pineda and Ester Morales of El Paso Texas; many nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Pineda and Holguin families, all over the country; and friends, too numerous to count. Prayer Vigil and Shared Rememberance will be held Friday, February 28, 2003 6:00 p.m., at Aquinas Newman Center, 1815 Las Lomas NE, at the University of New Mexico. Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, March 1, 1:30 p.m., at Aquinas Newman Center. A reception and celebration of Raymond's Life will be held immediately following the Funeral Mass, at the family residence, 1506 Ridgecrest Dr. SE in Albuquerque. For those wishing to, donations may be made to The University of New Mexico Foundation, College of Pharmacy for the purpose of providing support of Pharmacy students. Checks may be mailed to: John A. Pieper, Dean, UNMF College of Pharmacy, MCSC09 5360, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001. French Mortuary 1111 University Blvd. NE 843-6333
        Published on: Wed February 26, 2003