Philip (Felipe) Darraugh Ortego, 92, passed away peacefully in Silver City on December 29, one week after the 32nd wedding anniversary to his wife Gilda Baeza Ortego. Since 2007, Dr. Ortego was the Scholar in Residence at Western New Mexico University, where he taught courses in Chicano Studies, Humanities, Latin American Studies, Bilingual Education. He was born in Blue Island, Illinois while his parents Anita Campos Gasca and Luis Mendes Ortego were migrant workers from San Antonio, TX. A proud patriot, Dr. Ortego served in the Marines Corps during World War II and in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict and early Vietnam Era. Through the GI Bill, he studied Comparative Literature and Languages at the University of Pittsburgh and later obtained the Bachelors’ and Masters’ degrees at Texas Western College, now UTEP. In 1971, he earned the Ph.D. degree from the University of New Mexico.

He served in many academic posts during his long teaching career beginning as a French teacher at Jefferson High School in El Paso and as the founding Director of Chicano Studies at UTEP. Dr. Ortego received numerous awards including the 2018 Premio Estrella de Aztlán-Lifetime Achievement Award from the Texas Chapter of the National Association for Chicanas and Chicano Studies Association Texas and the Rudolfo Anaya Nueva Critica Award for his contributions to Chicano literature. WNMU recently honored him by naming the campus cultural center as the Felipe de Ortego y Gasca Cultural Center. In his final years, Dr. Ortego wrote a blog on Latinopedia, a website dedicated to Latino studies and culture. He was also actively involved with the Southwest Festival of the Written Word, the Grant County Democratic Party, the American Legion, LULAC Council 8003, and the Marine Corps League of Silver City. Dr. Ortego was an educator, writer, activist, musician, actor, master gardener and raconteur.

Rosary will be on Tuesday, January 8 at 6 p.m. at Terrazas Funeral Home in Santa Clara, NM and funeral Mass on Wednesday, Jan 9, at 10 a.m. at the St. Francis Newman Center in Silver City followed by a reception at the Felipe de Ortego y Gasca Cultural Center at 11:30 p.m. Inurnment with full military honors will be in El Paso, TX at a later date. Pallbearers are Josue Carrasco, Joseph Chavez, Marc Ravelo, Angel Almanza, Eduardo Trevizo, Israel Aldaba, Michael T. Acosta and Bryant G, Chaffino. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MEChA de Western New Mexico University through the Foundations Office. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels “Trusted care for the ones you love” ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.