Melinda Romero Pike
Melinda Romero Pike, 94, longtime resident of the historic Agua
Fria Village, died peacefully in her home, comforted with family present at her bedside on June 17, 2021. David Steven
Pike a.k.a. Leon Edgar Pike, her loving husband, preceded her in death, May 18, 1963. Steven Pike (Margo Catanach) and David Pike (Elizabeth Saiz) are surviving children. Born to Luis Romero and Valeria Rivera, Melinda was raised in the ancient Agua Fria Village, site of the Pindi Pueblo (1200’s), the first excavated (1933 - 1934) site to be listed in the official New Mexico archaeological site registry. Melinda traced her ancestry to Barolome Romero II from Corral de Almuguer, La Mancha Reino de Castillo, España and the 1598 Oñate expedition. When Melinda was five years old her mother died. Raised by a strict aunt she began her education in the one room WPA built Agua Fria school and graduated in 1944 from Santa Fe High School. When her father died in 1945, she moved to San Francisco where she worked for the Commandant 12 Naval District, volunteered as an usher at the San Francisco Metropolitan Opera, and worked as a freelance high fashion model of furs, gowns, and hats. After marriage she returned to Santa Fe and became a single female parent when she was prematurely widowed at the age of 36, left to raise two young boys. After surviving breast cancer in 1973 Melinda co-chartered the Santa Fe unit of the American Cancer Society (ACS) and was a member of the national ACS Reach to Recovery and Cancer in Minorities committees, serving as a volunteer for 20 years.
She received the prestigious "Terese Lasser Memorial Award," the highest national award for service in the American Cancer Society Reach to Recovery program. She was the first woman to serve on the San Isidro Parish Council, the first woman to serve on the Board of the Agua Fria Community Association and she also served on the Boards of the inaugural Agua Fria Cemetery, Santa Fe Community Action, Villa Therese Clinic, and Catholic Charities. She was secretary at Cristo Rey and St.
Anne’s / San Isidro parishes and at Catholic Charities. Later, she began to write brief stories about family lineage, culture, history, lifestyles, church and community and became known as a “story-teller” and “historian” during her employment at the District Court. In her later years, hungry Santa Fean’s could encounter her at Tortilla Flats where she worked for approximately 22 years as a hostess, bartender, and assistant manager. Melinda reflected in 2017 that her only experience in the restaurant business, "was to go eat," when she was hired at the age of 70. In 2004 Melinda was selected as one of three "Living Treasures" that year, sponsored by her employer, Dean Alexis, Tortilla Flats CEO, and in her words, "Dean became my Padrino." On October 26, 2010 Santa Fe County honored her as "Official Historian of Agua Fria Village," and named "Romero Park" in honor of numerous ancestral familial contributions to Agua Fria Village in honor of Maria Albina Romero, Melinda’s grandmother, and descendants, including her siblings and Melinda, herself. Melinda was appointed to the Santa Fe River Commission in 1994 and remained active for 21 years until she was 88. She wished to be remembered most for her work to restore the Santa Fe River to its past splendor. To her guests attending her 90th birthday celebration she said, "If you enjoy good health and are strong, don’t stop doing things, volunteers are always desperately needed. Keep in mind that each day is a new beginning to appreciate and to enjoy with people that touch your life. All of you here today have touched mine and I thank you." Rivera Family Funeral Home is arranging remembrance services for Melinda and details will be forthcoming. A rosary is planned in mid-July and a date for her funeral mass, Santa Fe National Cemetery burial, and reception to be scheduled in late July or early August.