Henry (Hank) Botts passed away peacefully sitting in his living room at “The Montebello on Academy”, his senior living center at age 94, just before he was to attend a group brunch on Sunday, January 5, 2025.
As a young child, Hank lived in several places, following his dad, who frequently traveled as a manager in a large company in the US. When he was about 10-years old, his family landed in Carthage, Missouri, south of Kansas City. He met his first wife, June, in high school. She bore two children, Dale and Cheryl. Both Hank and June achieved academic honors in High School. After high school in Carthage MO, he obtained a BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University. In 1952 he married Betty June Kreger and that summer he went to do a two-year stint in the Army. In 1954 he and June settled in Rochester NY.
Hank was active in Rochester’s Metro Act in the 1960s. In Rochester he was so involved in Metro Act that he wrote a book about his experiences. His wife, June passed away in 1975 due to an undiagnosed cholesterol issue, leading to a myocardial infarction. At that time, his son, Dale was 19, and in college and his daughter, Cheryl was 17 and a senior in HS.
Hank married Nancy Jane Hemry (Garverick) in 1977. With Nancy, he found a partner who shared many common ideas, discussing books, art, and other intellectual pursuits. Hank retired from Eastman Kodak in 1985, then traveled the world with his second wife Nancy Hemry. They moved to the La Luz Landowners Association in Albuquerque in 1992. Hank joined the Albuquerque La Luz Landowners Association finance committee, enhancing its reserve fund, serving on its Board twice, as Board treasurer, and then as president. His second wife Nancy passed away in 2011 from ovarian cancer.
Hank moved to The Montebello on Academy in 2020 just before the pandemic. He found a community where he enjoyed regular dining companionship with lively conversations.
Hank was an Eagle Scout and an artillery officer (second lieutenant) in the US Army. He had a 30 + year career with Eastman Kodak. He had many outside pursuits including book clubs, keeping physically fit, recreational sailing, learning and speaking French (he was a member of “Alliance Francaise” in Albuquerque), did audible recordings of the newspaper for the blind for many years, and was a member of a variety of associations. He remained active in many organizations.
A memorial service will be held on 2/24/2025 at 3:00 pm at First Unitarian, 3701 Carlisle Blvd NE, Albuquerque NM 87110, which will be live streamed and recorded. A reception at this venue will follow the service.
He is survived by his children Dale (Mary) and Cheryl as well as three grandchildren Kim, Michael, Nico, one stepdaughter Stephanie, and one sister Mary Wickwire. For more information, you may contact Dale at [email protected].
Learning how to love ourselves better with self-compassion and self-care allows us to carry this love outward, into our daily lives. Every action, no matter how small, holds the potential to contribute to a more loving world. This is true whether it’s a stroll through Montebello, a tangible display of trust in our neighbors, or simply having a lively conversation during brunch.
