Former NMT prof Gilbert Sanchez, 82, Passes Away 

July 13, 2021


Sanchez served 11 years as a biology professor and eventually became president of Highlands University

 

Dr. Gilbert Sanchez

May 7, 1938 – March 11, 2021


Former NMT professor Gilbert Sanchez, 82, passed away March 11, 2021, in Albuquerque.

Gilbert SanchezDr. Sanchez was born in Belen, N.M., to Macedonia and Josephine Sanchez, the second of three children, Freda Clinton, and Susana Sanchez. Gilbert graduated from Belen High School in 1957. He attended New Mexico State University, where he received a bachelor's degree in microbiology.

He married Lorena Tabet in 1961, and together they had three children, Elizabeth Sanchez of Albuquerque; Dr. Phillip Sanchez and wife, Teresa of Colorado; and Katherine and husband, Tanner Irons, of Ruidoso. His grandchildren are  Chance Irons who is married to Valerie and have one daughter, Emerlynn, and Cannon and Colton Irons, all of Ruidoso Downs.

Gilbert attended UNM where he taught microbiology and then went on to Kansas University, with his wife, Lorena and children.

After three years at KU and earning his Ph.D., he then went to Rice University in Houston, Texas, for a postdoctoral.

Gilbert joined the New Mexico Tech faculty in 1968 and later became a full professor. He taught microbiology and parasitology for 11 years at NMT. He then was selected as Dean at College of Arts and Science at Eastern New Mexico University in Portales. From 1980 to 1985, he served as Vice President for the University of Southern Colorado in Pueblo. He was selected president of N.M. Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M., in 1985 where he served for 10 years.

During 1995, Gilbert worked at National Institutes for Health in Washington, DC. He also did consulting for many universities, and before retiring, he made custom wood and iron furniture for his home and friends. Please visit our online guestbook for Gilbert at www.FrenchFunerals.com.

-- NMT --