Obituary of Boyd William Brinegar

Boyd William Brinegar August 6, 1955 – April 16, 2023.  Boyd Brinegar, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away unexpectedly on April 16.  Boyd was the son of Warren and Helen Brinegar and was raised in Santa Fe. He was a chef for many years starting in New Orleans and returning to Santa Fe where he worked in many restaurants including The Compound, The Bull Ring, Casa Blanca, Chez Poncho’s, El Gancho and The Guadalupe Café. He also cooked in Wyoming, Colorado and Los Alamos. 

After leaving the restaurant business, he went on to work in horticulture, as manager for Payne’s Nursery, then then for Coates Tree Service, where he became a certified arborist.  He later moved to Albuquerque, working first at Osuna Nursery and then at the new Sandia Resort & Casino. He was part of the design team for Sandia’s outside landscaping and later was in charge of ordering and purchasing for the maintenance department.             

Boyd grew up camping and being outdoors with his family and loved going fishing and camping the rest of his life. He was fascinated by science, science fiction and fantasy and growing things. 

He was preceded in death by his father, Warren, Santa Fe band teacher, mother, Helen, Santa Fe school librarian and, most recently by his beloved Aunt Shirley.  He is survived by his brothers Paul (Albuquerque), Mike and his wife Keri (Santa Fe), and Steve (Santa Fe), cousins Ward(Albuquerque), and Elizabeth Kemper and her husband, Don (Pueblo West, CO), Paul and Mark of Granada Hills, CA, and his best friend Joe Brown, wife Roxy of Santa Fe, and their sons, Boyd’s “nephews,” Joseph and Travis.  He was a loving “dad” to a long line of dogs, who were all blessed to be his companions, most recently Millie. 

A memorial service for Boyd is planned for July 8 at 11 AM at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Santa Fe, with a reception to follow.   His ashes will be scattered in northern New Mexico. 

Boyd will be greatly missed by his family and friends. 

Death is that state in which one exists only in the memory of others…which is why it is not an end.  “No goodbyes. Just good memories. Hailing frequencies closed, sir.” (Star Trek).   May the Force be with You.