Daniel Mark Rosenfelt
Daniel Mark Rosenfelt, 76, a prominent New Mexico attorney, passed away peacefully on Tuesday night, November 14, after a sudden illness. He was surrounded by his loving family. Daniel was a beloved son, father, husband, uncle, grandfather, and dear friend. Daniel, better known as Dan, was born in Kansas City, Missouri. He grew up in Newton, Massachusetts.
Daniel Rosenfelt was a successful attorney with more then 50 years in practice, specializing in business law, real estate commercial litigation, Indian Law and Economic development. This past summer, he was recognized and honored by the New Mexico Bar Association for practicing law for 50 + years.
Daniel earned his L.L.B. Degree from Columbia University Law School, New York City, 1966. He was a member of the Trial Lawyers and Bar Associations of New Mexico, California, Arizona, and the Navajo Nation. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland. He attended Putney Liberal School in Vermont during his high school years. Last year, he attended his 50th class Reunion at Putney.
Early in his legal career, he held faculty positions in Harvard and Gonzaga University law schools and taught courses in real estate planning and real property law.
He began his legal career in Washington D.C., during the Carter Administration at the Department of the Interior working as Assistant Solicitor, focusing on Native American Water Rights. In 1970, he was heavily involved in the establishment and early years of the American Rights Fund (NARF), a non-profit organization that uses existing laws and treaties to ensure the U.S. Government live up to its legal obligations to indigenous peoples. This field of Indian law interested Dan and motivated him to move to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the early 1980’s. He continued to work for Native American Tribes in California, Arizona, Montana, and New Mexico. In 1976, he co-authored and published the case law book for Federal Indian Law, together with Attorneys David Getches, and Charles Wilkinson, West Publishing Company. In June 1997, he was also admitted as Attorney of the United States Court of Federal Claims Courts. He believed with a passion his mission of assisting and representing Native Americans and protecting their sovereign rights. During his tenure, he represented many Governors of Pueblos, and the Navajo Nation. He was General Counsel when he represented the Governor of San Felipe and their tribal Council in the development and beginning of its casino. Dan was well known by the Governors of these pueblos, including the Jicarita Apache Tribe. Dan worked diligently, along with his peers, in further clarifying the New Mexico Gaming Compacts. And recently, he was still working with the Supreme Court of the Navajo Nation, and the United States Supreme Court. He had established a successful law firm with offices in Gallup, Shiprock, and Chinley, Arizona, later known as Rosenfelt, Barlow, and Borg Law Firm. The firm closed in 2010, and Dan continued semi-retired working as a private attorney, and worked part-time at the Linda Rios Law Firm, Albuquerque.
One of his most memorable cases was in 1987 when the Crow Tribe of Montana and the Federal government filed suit, challenging taxation of coal on certain Indian lands. He was recognized and made honorary member of the Crow Nation in Montana. This successful lawsuit was celebrated with a parade. This was Dan’s first experience riding a horse, and leading a parade. He was presented with a hand-made beaded belt by the Crow Nation Tribe.
Recently, he began to be involved with more social and passionate activities, and loved to travel. He was taking courses in Foreign Policy through the Osher Institute, University of New Mexico, and many classes through the Oasis, and was a member of the Albuquerque International Association, and Congregation Albert. He and his lovely wife traveled globally, as they created a "bucket" list for travel destinations. They included places like Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Spain, Russia, Tahiti, Hawaii, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and recently, Japan. It was particularly meaningful for him to visit Japan, where he lived as a young boy while his father worked on Post-World War II Reconstruction sponsored by our Federal Government. In addition, both Daniel and his wife enjoyed golfing, skiing, and ardently following the Boston Red Sox, and the Boston Celtics as loyal fans.
Daniel is survived by his beloved wife of 26 years, Viola Martinez; his loving daughters, Rebecca Rosentino, and husband Michael of Portland, Oregon; Rachel Rosenfelt, New York City; his newest and precious grandchild, Edison Rosentino, Portland, Oregon; step-sons, Steven and Joe Martinez, Albuquerque; surviving sisters, Susanna DesJardien and husband, Kent, Rio Rancho, and Joan Rosenfelt, New York; nephew, Aaron Ritoper and wife Nathalie; grand niece, Anna, Nice, France; Sister-in-Law, Veronica Michalski, Albuquerque; and all his close and special friends in the Havara.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Mark and Rosalie Rosenfelt, Albuquerque; Aunt Ruth, Chicago; Uncle Harry, Chicago; and recently this year, his close brother-in-law, Salomon Esquibel, Las Vegas, New Mexico. Donations are being asked for the American Cancer Society.
A memorial service will be held at Congregation Albert, 3800 Louisiana NE, Albuquerque on Friday, November 24 at 1:00 PM. A Reception will immediately follow at the same site. French Mortuary will be coordinating all activities with Temple Albert.