David Curtis

AVID BALLANTYNE CURTIS David Ballantyne Curtis, 77, passed away on Father's Day, June 18, 2017 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. He will forever live in the hearts of his beloved wife of fifty years, Susan Curtis; his two daughters Nicole Ammerman and Kristen Krell; son-in-law Mike Ammerman; and his four precious grandchildren Dylan and Tyler Krell, and Haley and Logan Ammerman. His sister, Susie Schmittel, and countless friends and family members who loved and admired him throughout his life will also dearly miss him. Born in Denver, Colorado, David was the only son of Jean and Marjorie Curtis. He received his BA from the University of Colorado and went on to attain his PhD from Oregon State University in geo-sciences. David was a Renaissance Man and life-long learner with accomplishments in both science and art. His scientific career in geo-sciences provided him an opportunity to study the lunar rocks at Cal-Tech during his post-doctoral work, and included memorable field experiences such as exploring an active volcano in Hawaii. During his 25 years at Los Alamos National Labs, David studied nuclear reactors occurring naturally in the earth. Later in his career, David served as a diplomat to Russia in an attempt to quantify and secure nuclear materials during his time with the Department of Energy. In 1989, David's wife Susan embarked on her own project, opening the Santa Fe School of Cooking. David was then, and remained throughout the next 28 years of business, a very intricate part of the organization. David served as a behind-the-scenes advisor and sounding board, and he never hesitated to pitch in and assist with whatever needed to be done. David was an accomplished clarinet player and a connoisseur of music, with a passion for jazz. He was an avid lover of life and cherished both the simple pleasures and the finer aspects of all that life has to offer. He enjoyed skiing, hiking, travel, great food, laughter and lively conversation with family and friends. A celebration of David's life will be held in his honor at 5:00 pm on Saturday, July 8, 2017 at First Presbyterian Church, 208 Grant Ave, Santa Fe, NM 87501 Memorial gifts in honor of David can be made to: On-line: alz.org Or by mail: Alzheimer's Association, New Mexico Chapter PO Box 21400 Albuquerque, NM 87154