Michael Lopez

MICHAEL LOPEZ Michael Rene Lopez, 34, father, husband, son, brother, friend and executive of COMPA Industries, Inc., passed away in the early morning of April 11, 2011. He was born July 15, 1976, in Anaheim, Calif. He attended and graduated from St. Anthony Claret Elementary, Mater Dei High School and the University of New Mexico. At Mater Dei High School, he accomplished academic excellence graduating with a 4.0 GPA, served as ASB president and as a captain of the football team. He received several offers to attend Ivy League Universities, but chose to attend the University of California at San Diego. Upon the death of his father in 1996, he transferred to the University of New Mexico to support his mother and the family business, COMPA. After graduating from the University of New Mexico with a B.S. in civil engineering, he went to work for Bechtel Nevada in Las Vegas. He enjoyed great early career success supporting multiple programs that serviced various three letter government agencies, in particularly one group who were the first to respond and spend several months in the cleanup of 2001 9/11 World Trade Center terrorist attacks. After a successful period at Bechtel Nevada, Michael rejoined COMPA as an executive in 2004. He expanded his career by achieving his PMP and obtaining MBA from the Anderson School at UNM. Although he supported the company as an officer in various capacities, he worked directly on specific contracts, notably the Second Line of Defense program at the Department of Energy in Washington, D.C. and the Clark County Office of Emergency Management and Clark County School District in Las Vegas. Michael was an integral part in obtaining, implementing, and servicing COMPA's biggest multi- million dollar contract at Los Alamos National Laboratory. He was a loving father, devoted husband, loyal son, brother and best of friends to many of us. His energy and optimism was contagious, making you feel comfortable and creating an immediate sense of familiarity that would last the visit and much more. He loved to give others his unique sense of humor and made people laugh. He opened his house and is heart to everyone, willing to counsel and support anyone's dreams and endeavors he came into contact with. He loved to mentor and give to others with his time, resources, and soul. He gave to his own detriment many times. He will be greatly missed, but also greatly remembered. He was preceded in death by his father, Rene Laform Lopez, in 1996. He is survived by his daughter, Mahina Emma; his wife, Tasha Ann Haunani; his mother, Edna; mother-in-law, Taylor; his four brothers, David, Daniel, Armando and Samuel, his brothers' wives, Shelly and Alethea; his brother-in-law, Kekona and his wife, Rie; his seven nephews, Luke, Alec, Aisaak, Aidan, Jake, Alexander and Jesiah; and his four nieces, Shelby, Tatum, Paige and Amber. Rosary will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 16, with Liturgy at 1:30 p.m., both at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 2575 W. El Campo Grande Ave., North Las Vegas, NV 89031. Celebration of life will follow 3-6 p.m., at 8225 Broad Peak Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89131. Other public services will be held in Albuquerque, N.M., and Anaheim, Calif. A private family burial ceremony will be held in Kaneohe, Hawaii. Date and times will be determined and announced at a later date. To continue with Michael's dream of mentoring future leaders, we have established an education foundation in his honor. Please send checks to: Attn.: Michael R. Lopez Education Foundation, 1314 Madeira Drive SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Please make sure the payee is listed as "FBO Michael R. Lopez"; please reference on the check Acct#1444460. Thank you.