The New Mexicans
A pictorial history of the Komadina family in New Mexico

 
 

	1917  Grand Dad: Florian  Croatian miner with  his young family in  Dawson, New Mexico
		1926 Grand Ma, Julia, a miner’s widow, raises her  children after a mine accident took Florian at age 32

 
 

1943 Mom and Dad’s  (Marge and Tony) engagement picture  from the Albuquerque Journal

1945 I was born and lived   in downtown  Albuquerque until 1949, when we moved  to Girard N. E., by UNM

1951 Every Saturday morning we would head for the Highland Theater for  kids shows, with action  Westerns and serials	1963 I graduated from Highland High and  entered UNM

1966 The summer  found me entering the third class at  the new UNM School of Medicine

1967 Penny and I  married and  she worked to  help me finish school.

1969 Our first child, Jenny, was born in 1969.  That same year the Navy sent me to Nepal via Viet Nam.

1977 As a commander in the US Navy, I made the hard decision to resign my commission and return to New Mexico, to serve the people I had grown up with.

1979 Our family grew to six wonderful kids over ten years, and they began public schools just like Penny and me

	1987 Just one of thousands of  “New” New Mexicans I  have been privileged to help  get into the world.  I have  the best job!
1990 I will never forget the night 14 of  my scouts received their Eagle Scout awards and I was awarded National Outstanding Scoutmaster.

1999 As President of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, after  16 years serving on it’s board, I gained experience working with State and city government,  and worked with thousands of volunteers  in putting on the most photographed event in the world.

2000 As a couple for 34 years, we’ve grown grey, and wrinkled, but still love each other. We  count our blessings that all of our children live here in New Mexico. We get to spoil our 5 grand children every day!