December 9, 2025
Mark Leo-Russell, our valued friend and colleague, passed away suddenly on November 10, 2025. He was 66. Mark’s first association with the Bureau of Geology was as an undergraduate geology major at New Mexico Tech, where he spent several years as the student curator in our Mineral Museum. After a full career in information technology, working for the Department of Defense, Indian Health Service, and Albuquerque Public Schools, he rejoined the bureau in 2021 as a database administrator. In his role at the Bureau of Geology, he worked on database migration and support, data modeling, systems management, web development, and GIS projects, bringing his IT expertise and passion for geology to all his projects. He also embarked on a PhD program in the Department of Mineral Engineering at New Mexico Tech.
Mark’s bureau colleagues noted his kindness, friendliness, sense of humor, curiosity, and passion for geology. Many noted that Mark always had a friendly word or joke to share with them if he passed in the hall or stopped by their office. He was dedicated to his work, with a willingness to always pitch in to help his colleagues. He was also a wonderful mentor to our students, helping them with their projects, participating in their fieldwork, and attending their thesis defenses. We are so fortunate that Mark chose to spend his second career with us, and we will all greatly miss his enthusiasm, cheerful face, and kind words.