sad news

Friday night, I got a call from my mom telling me that my cousin Lenny was killed in a motorcycle accident. Lenny was a super nice guy with quite a sense of humor. Several years ago he was diagnosed with cancer and had gone through treatment and was doing well.
Sadly he died at such a young age in such a tragic accident.
Lenny's dad (Max) and my dad are brothers.

LEONARD “LENNY” MAESTAS Age 42, a resident of El Guache, passed away on Friday, August 1, 2008 following injuries sustained in an accident. Lenny was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Pedro and Maria Maestas; maternal grandparents, Miguel and Eloisa Valdez and in-laws, Orlando and Josephine Lujan. Lenny was a Steelers fanatic and had a passion for riding his motorcycle and also loved baseball and softball. He was a loving father, son, brother, uncle and friend. Mr. Maestas is survived by his children, Nicholas Maestas of El Duende, Mateo Maestas of Arroyo Seco, Lynette Maestas of El Duende and Victoria Maestas of Arroyo Seco; parents, Maclovio and Linda Maestas of El Guache; brothers and sisters, Pam Tucker and husband Silviano of Dixon, Alex Maestas and companion Cathy Martinez of Rio Chama, Margaret Gallegos and husband Ray of Rio Chama, Daniel Maestas of El Guache and Chris Maestas and wife Lola of El Guache; mother of his eldest children, Therese Chacon and husband Adam of El Duende; mother of his youngest children, Deborah Bater of Arroyo Seco; special child considered like a daughter, Desirae Lujan of El Duende; 9 nieces; 5 nephews; 2 great-nieces and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives and friends. Serving as pallbearers, Nicholas, Alex, Daniel and Chris Maestas and Mario and Lucas Valdez. Honorary pallbearers named are, God-sons, Juanito Dominguez, Jeremiah Maestas and brothers-in-law, Silviano Tucker and Ray Gallegos. The Maestas family has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley. Public Visitation 4:00 p.m. - Monday August 4, 2008 Sangre de Cristo Chapel DeVargas Funeral Home Rosary 7:00 p.m. - Monday August 4, 2008 Sangre de Cristo Chapel DeVargas Funeral Home Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 a.m. - Tuesday August 5, 2008 San Jose Catholic Church Hernandez, New Mexico Burial San Jose Catholic Cemetery Hernandez, New Mexico

Police: Two dead in fatal wreck

State police Saturday were still investigating a Friday night crash involving a motorcycle and pickup near Española that left two people dead.

Leonard Maestas, 43, of Rio Arriba County was riding a motorcycle north on U.S. 84/285 in Hernández, north of Española, about 7:30 p.m. when the Chevrolet truck turned in front of him, Lt. Eric Garcia said.

Maestas' Harley-Davidson motorcycle struck the passenger side of the truck, Garcia said, and Maestas and truck passenger Michael Romero, 19, also of Rio Arriba County, both sustained fatal injuries.

"Charges are pending at this point," Garcia said, but he could not specify any other details.