Adélamar (Dely) N. Alcántara, UNM director of Geospatial and Population Studies, died Nov. 3 while on her way back home to Albuquerque from the Philippines.
Alcántara is survived by her husband Theodore (Ted) Jojola, a Distinguished Professor and Regents’ Professor in the Community & Regional Planning Program, UNM School of Architecture + Planning. She was preceded in death by her son, Manoa Alcántara Jojola.
Alcántara joined UNM in 1985, served as the New Mexico state demographer for decades, and served as the director of Geospatial and Population Studies since its founding in 2011.
She was the founder of the New Mexico Asian Family Center. Alcántara was a leader in the Filipino community, having been president of the Filipino American Foundation of New Mexico, Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico and the Filipino American Community Council. She also co-founded the Filipino American National Historical Society – Rio Grande. She received the 2018 Si Se Puede Award from Dolores Huerta at the National Hispanic Cultural Center’s Cesar Chavez Day in Albuquerque.
In honor of her late son, Alcántara made significant contributions to the Albuquerque Academy and Tricklock Theater. She co-founded the Manoa Alcántara Jojola International Center for Arts & Language MAJICAL Learning Montessori School in the province of Tarlac, Philippines, where she was just visiting to help kick off the school year.
She was a role model and mentor to everyone, with a sharp mind and humorous wit, wisdom and courage.
Services will be held Friday, Dec. 13, at Isleta Pueblo. Details are as follows:
Mass – 10 a.m.
Memorial – 11 a.m.
Noon – Reception
St. Augustine Catholic Church, Isleta Pueblo
71 Tribal Road 35 Isleta Village Proper
In lieu of flowers, donations are requested for the Adélamar (Dely) Alcántara Memorial Fund (http://bit.ly/DelyMemorialFund), established by the Albuquerque Community Foundation. This fund will be disbursed to various organizations close to Alcántara.