An Indelible Imprint

Few individuals who retire from academia leave an indelible imprint, but Rubén Cobos can be counted among those whose legacy is guaranteed. His contributions, both in and outside the classroom, to the annals of Hispanic language and culture of New Mexico are well inscribed for present and future generations to assimilate and enjoy.At peace with himself in his golden years, he spoke proudly of his longevity in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, a magical planet that he warmed up to and came to love. Cobos’s compassion for Hispanics and their language, customs and traditions in the hinterland, his interest in students, love of pets and music, plus his fondness for tinkering with telescopes, is unequivocal. The word “beautiful,” which becomes a leitmotiv throughout "An Indelible Imprint: Rubén Cobos, A Multi-Talented Personality," perhaps best portrays his persona and assessment of life on this fragile earth of ours.

Few individuals who retire from academia leave an indelible imprint, but Rubén Cobos can be counted among those whose legacy is guaranteed. His contributions, both in and outside the classroom, to the annals of Hispanic language and culture of New Mexico are well inscribed for present and future generations to assimilate and enjoy.At peace with himself in his golden years, he spoke proudly of his longevity in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, a magical planet that he warmed up to and came to love. Cobos’s compassion for Hispanics and their language, customs and traditions in the hinterland, his interest in students, love of pets and music, plus his fondness for tinkering with telescopes, is unequivocal. The word “beautiful,” which becomes a leitmotiv throughout "An Indelible Imprint: Rubén Cobos, A Multi-Talented Personality," perhaps best portrays his persona and assessment of life on this fragile earth of ours.

Nasario García was born in Bernalillo, New Mexico and grew up in the Río Puerco Valley southeast of Chaco Canyon. He received his BA and MA degrees in Spanish and Portuguese from the University of New Mexico. While a doctoral student at the University of Granada, Spain he studied under the eminent linguist Dr. Manuel Alvar. García was awarded his Ph. D. in XIX century Spanish literature from the University of Pittsburgh. He began his teaching career at Chatham College in Pittsburgh and subsequently taught in Illinois, New Mexico and Colorado. At the University of Southern Colorado, he served as Assistant Vice President for Academic and Student Affairs as well as Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. As a university professor, García received numerous research, teaching, and community awards. He has lectured in this country and abroad—including Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and Spain. His lectures linking New Mexico to Spain culturally and linguistically were at the Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia (UNED), the Casa de América, both in Madrid, and the University of Alcalá de Henares. In 1991 he was elected president of the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese (AATSP). He also served as president of the New Mexico Folklore Society. For the past 30-plus years García has devoted his life to the preservation of Hispanic language, culture and folklore of New Mexico. He has authored/co-authored 23 books. Among them are—Rattling Chains and Other Stories for Children: Ruido de cadenas y otros cuentos para niños (Arte Público Press, 2009), finalist, New Mexico Book Awards, 2009, and The Naked Rainbow and Other Stories: El arco iris y otros cuentos (University of New Mexico Press, 2009), Southwest Book of the Year, Tucson-Pima County Public Library, 2009. His latest publications include Fe y tragedias: Faith and Tragedies in Hispanic Villages of New Mexico (Río Grande Books, 2010), finalist, New Mexico Book Awards, 2011, and Bolitas de oro: Poems of My Marble-Playing Days (University of New Mexico Press, 2010). Grandpa Lolo’s Navajo Saddle Blanket: La tilma de Abuelito Lolo, a children’s book, will be published in 2012. An Emeritus Professor of Spanish, García currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico.