- Date Of Birth: December 29, 1942
- Date Of Death: September 30, 2022
- State: New Mexico
On Friday, Sept, 30, 2022, New Mexico lost its First “First Gentleman”. Herbert Marshall
Denish passed away from injuries and complications from a car accident. Herb was
born Thursday, December 29, 1942, in Kansas City, MO, to Marshall and Madge Denish.
While still a toddler his family moved to Albuquerque, NM where the climate
better suited his older sister, Barbara, who suffered from asthma.
Herb grew up in Southeast Albuquerque, attending Whittier Elementary, Wilson
Junior High, and Highland High School where he graduated in 1961.
He then graduated from University of New Mexico where he received a Bachelors
of Business Administration in 1966. In 1968, at 25, he became the Assistant
Director of the Model Cities program, part of President Lyndon Johnson’s Great
Society initiative. It was there he met and worked with many people who believed
in the high hopes for Albuquerque.
In 1971 he joined the City of Albuquerque as Assistant City Manager under then
Chair of the City Commission, Pete V. Domenici. This helped to launch not only
his knowledge of municipal government but was the start of many lifelong
friendships that still remain.
From 1968-1972 he served in the U. S. Army Reserves 156th Area support group.
His big break came in 1974 when George Maloof invited him to join First National
Bank of Albuquerque as Vice President to project manage the building and
development of what is known today as First Plaza in the heart of downtown.
operated until 2011. Some projects include Cottonwood Mall, ABQ Uptown, Mesa
del Sol, High Desert, New Mexico Cancer Center, Mariposa, and The Classic
Hotel (now known as Sheraton Uptown) and many more. Most recently Herb was
honored to work with the Garcia family on their exciting vision for downtown
Albuquerque including the revisioning of one of his first projects, First Plaza.
Herb’s hobby, avocation, and love was singing. As a child and young adult, he sang
alongside his father in the choir at the First Baptist Church of Albuquerque. Many
people will also remember him from his years in the Highland High School choir.
During his UNM years, he enjoyed a short internship at the Santa Fe Opera and
formed the Herb Denish Trio singing on KOB radio and for audiences in
Albuquerque. For forty years he sang barbershop harmony with the New
Mexichords and later the Duke City Sound. Most recently, he lent his voice to the
inspirational NM Peace Choir.
Herb is survived by his wife of 38 years, former Lt. Governor Diane Denish and
her children; Suzanne (Tony) Spencer, (Sarah) and Sara; 8 darling grandchildren, his
sister Barbara Moyer and husband Bob; nephew Mark Moyer (Jennifer); Godsons
Peter Horan and Robert G. Taylor III, best friends Tom Horan and Steven Spare,
dear friend Robert G. Taylor II, our Sunday breakfast crew and his sweet pup
Molly.
Our family is forever grateful to all those at the city who worked with him over the
years in the high hopes department, those who enriched his life through singing,
and our friends, neighbors and the medical team at UNMH who cared for him and
us during the last few days of his life.
To celebrate the life of Herb, and to honor his love for singing, memorial gifts may
be made to the UNM Music Chair’s Fund, to support choral scholarships and
student enrichment. Gifts can be mailed to the UNM Foundation, 700 Lomas Blvd.
NE Albuquerque, NM 87102 or made online at
things he did was request his absentee ballot knowing that the future and the
coming vote was important.
available statewide Saturday, October 22nd!
at St.
