Robert F. Winter
May 17, 1950 — May 24, 2011
Robert Foster Winter 5-17-1950 -- 5-24-2011, born in Albuquerque, NM, to Paul and Ella Virginia Winter. Rob was the oldest of three children, followed by twins Penny and Brad. He attended Bandelier Wilson and Highland H.S. in Albuquerque. He earned top honors playing high school football and was named Outstanding Lineman in the State North/South All Star game in Aug. 1968. He went o...
Robert Foster Winter 5-17-1950 -- 5-24-2011, born in Albuquerque, NM, to Paul and Ella Virginia Winter. Rob was the oldest of three children, followed by twins Penny and Brad. He attended Bandelier Wilson and Highland H.S. in Albuquerque. He earned top honors playing high school football and was named Outstanding Lineman in the State North/South All Star game in Aug. 1968. He went on to play college football at UNM in Albuquerque and was the smallest defensive tackle at 5'9" and 200 lbs. What he lacked in size he made up in heart for the love of the game. He earned his Bachelor's Degree at UNM and his Master's at Western N.M. Univ. He coached football at Western N.M. Univ., then high school football at Carlsbad H.S. and Onate H.S. here in Las Cruces. In education for many years, Rob coached, taught history classes, was an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Onate and then retired. One year later he was back teaching U. S. History at Las Montanas Charter H.S., in Las Cruces. The Las Montanas H.S. senior class of 2011 honored him with the Teacher of the Year Award. In coaching, teaching, or administrative duties, Rob touched the lives of many students. He was well known for his strutting gait while singing down the halls and the friendly, always caring interaction he had with students on a daily basis. Rob was a quiet, stoic, unassuming man who earned the love and respect of parents, co-workers, staff and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him...
Robert Foster Winter 5-17-1950 -- 5-24-2011, born in Albuquerque, NM, to Paul and Ella Virginia Winter. Rob was the oldest of three children, followed by twins Penny and Brad. He attended Bandelier Wilson and Highland H.S. in Albuquerque. He earned top honors playing high school football and was named Outstanding Lineman in the State North/South All Star game in Aug. 1968. He went on to play college football at UNM in Albuquerque and was the smallest defensive tackle at 5'9" and 200 lbs. What he lacked in size he made up in heart for the love of the game. He earned his Bachelor's Degree at UNM and his Master's at Western N.M. Univ. He coached football at Western N.M. Univ., then high school football at Carlsbad H.S. and Onate H.S. here in Las Cruces. In education for many years, Rob coached, taught history classes, was an Assistant Principal/Athletic Director at Onate and then retired. One year later he was back teaching U. S. History at Las Montanas Charter H.S., in Las Cruces. The Las Montanas H.S. senior class of 2011 honored him with the Teacher of the Year Award. In coaching, teaching, or administrative duties, Rob touched the lives of many students. He was well known for his strutting gait while singing down the halls and the friendly, always caring interaction he had with students on a daily basis. Rob was a quiet, stoic, unassuming man who earned the love and respect of parents, co-workers, staff and friends. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Rob is survived by his wife, Toni, her sisters Jean (bud), Jackie and their families, his mother Virginia, sister Penny and brother Brad (Nan) and their family. A year ago this Memorial Day weekend, Rob had back surgery and was pain free, but weakening legs and arms raised new concerns and a lung biopsy was done. Pathology reports done by the Mayo Clinic diagnosed him with a very rare form of Lymphoma with Neurological problems. Rob was soon confined to a wheelchair, unable to stand or walk. He lost his life due to the paraneoplastic syndrome that was the neurological part of his cancer. Memorial Services to celebrate his life will be at 11 AM on Saturday, May 28, 2011 at Onate High School, East parking lot in the commons area. Pastor Norm Story of First Presbyterian Church will be officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family hopes that donations to the American Cancer Society-Rare Lymphoma Diseases can be made for further research, in his memory. The family wishes to THANK everyone who offered thoughts and prayers, cards, calls, visits, and other deeds of kindness this past year. PDF Printable Version
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