Dr. Martha M. Urioste, 85, gently took the hand of God and ever so peacefully transitioned to her heavenly home on Wednesday, December 8, 2022, with her family praying at her side.
Martha was born October 2, 1937, in Raton, New Mexico to Mack and Nattie Urioste. She was raised in Raton, graduated in the Class of 1954, and continued her education; graduating from Loretto Heights College in 1958.
She began her educational career with Denver Public Schools immediately after college. No one knew, not even Martha, what a trailblazer she would become. Starting out teaching first grade at Gilpin Elementary, she later taught Spanish on Public TV for DPS, taught middle school Spanish, became a counselor at West High School, and then Assistant Principal at North High School. She became Principal at Mitchell Elementary in the mid ’80s.
At Mitchell, she was told the school was not in compliance with the court order concerning desegregation. She decided to pursue a different avenue of education and investigated Montessori education. She went to Rome, Italy, and met with Montessori colleagues. Convinced Montessori was the way to go, she returned to Denver and courageously sailed forward to bring Montessori education into the Denver Public Schools. It all started when Martha purchased a crack house across the street from the school and turned it into an infant daycare center with Montessori-based methods. In time, Montessori integrated into Mitchell Elementary where the children then received an education totally Montessori-based. Her legend continued to grow and now Montessori education in various middle schools and high schools in DPS. Children continue to thrive in these schools to this day, almost 30 years later.
Martha accomplished so much in her life. She was most proud of:
• Being named in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities
• Earning 2 Master’s Degrees in Education and Counseling (1963 & 1971 respectively)
• Receiving her PHD from the University of Colorado in 1977
• Receiving her Honorary PHD from Regis University in 2017
• Being inducted into the Colorado Hall of Fame, in 2000
• Being inducted into the Colorado Latino Hall of Fame in 2018
• Publishing her book, “The Family Star Story” in 2016
She received many more awards too numerous to mention.
Martha had many joys in life that she loved. She traveled the world, had a passion for reading and learning as much as she could, and loved helping people in any way she could. Her greatest entertainment was slot machines. In the last years of her life, she loved going to Las Vegas with her brother, Richard. They would go to see Cher in residency at the Park MGM Hotel/Casino. From the first concert she saw in 2017, she became a bonafide Cher fan.
Martha was preceded in death by her parents, Mack and Nattie Urioste, her maternal grandparents, J.R and Juanita Fernandez, paternal grandparents Jake and Matilde Urioste, and many other aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She is survived by her siblings, Leroy (Pearl) Urioste from Wagon Mound, NM, Ellen Haines (Lyle Anthony) of Raton, NM, and Richard Urioste of Denver, Colorado. Also surviving her are her nieces, Kris Haines and Teresa Wendelburg (David) of the Denver area, and Marcia Haines Rubio of Raton, her nephews Mack Urioste of Albuquerque, NM, Carlos Urioste of Denver, Great Nephews Jory Pitts and Troy Pitts from Utah, Daniel Rubio and Seth Rubio of Pueblo, and Noah Rubio of Trinidad, Great Niece Kira Pitts of Denver, and Great-great Nephew Grayson Pitts. She is also survived by numerous cousins and countless number of “beautiful friends.”
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to www.familystar.net/about-us
Visitation will be held Sunday, December 18th from 2-4:00 PM, at Olinger Hampden Mortuary, 8600 E Hampden Ave, Denver, CO 80231. The funeral service will be held Monday, December 19th at 10:00 am, at Holy Ghost Catholic Church, 1900 California St, Denver, CO 80202
