Know Your Neighbor: Gutierrez exits short Chicago stint to 40-year Taos career

As 2016 ends, David Gutierrez completes one phase of his career and adds a new chapter to his life facing 2017. Gutierrez’s last day at the Taos Albertsons, located at 710-A Paseo del Pueblo Sur, was Nov. 9. He retired from the grocery business after 40 years.

Work history

After graduation from Pecos High School, Gutierrez moved to Chicago to study air conditioning and refrigeration for a year. “I found it hard to get established in Chicago, so I changed fields. I had to eat, so I worked in a factory,” Gutierrez said.

In Chicago, he met and married Barbara Corriero. After living in Chicago for a few years, he wanted to move to Taos. “Forty years later, Barbara and I still mention our move. We’ve driven by our first apartment and noticed the changes. We laugh when we remember that when we first moved here, she asked, ‘Where are all the sidewalks?’” Gutierrez said. He also added that his wife, a part-time general merchandise/non-foods employee at Albertsons, enjoys life in the Taos area.

Back in Taos, jobs remained quite scarce at the time. So, Gutierrez changed his work focus once again. His history of work at grocery stores reflects the business history of the community. Gutierrez worked at the former Safeway. Later, he worked for Piggly Wiggly at the present location of Super Save. Piggly Wiggly sold to Furr’s Supermarkets, and Gutierrez worked there as well. Later, he moved the family to Santa Fe to work for Furr’s for three years. “I didn’t like Santa Fe, so I transferred to Taos,” he said. His work history with Furr’s spanned two decades. In 2007, Raley’s Supermarkets took over store ownership for seven years until Albertsons came to town.

“It’s a long process,” Gutierrez said about the changes in ownership in the grocery business. His work also varied during the changes. Gutierrez began work bagging groceries, and then he served as a head clerk, checker and assistant manager. He worked in nearly every department. Throughout the years, hours and shifts changed. His final position, file maintenance clerk, included scanning duties. Gutierrez worked from 4 a.m. to noon, his favorite shift.

When asked about his favorite duties during his career, he said, “Throughout the years, I’ve met many people. In answer to the question, I liked the Raley’s management style because this company was more involved with the community than any other for which I worked. I was so sorry to see the store leave town because many people liked Raley’s.”

Family

The son of the late Felimon Gutierrez and Stella Gutierrez, he credits his parents for his good life. Gutierrez is the oldest of six children. His siblings are Ernie (Laura) Gutierrez, the late Diana Olonia, Margaret (Albert) Gonzales, Joseph (Louri) Gutierrez and the late James Gutierrez.

Gutierrez and and his wife raised three boys of whom they are very proud. David Jr., a California resident, remains in the process of adopting a son. Daniel (Krystal) resides in Taos, where the couple raises Angelica (Gel) and Mia Amor (called Mia). Adam, David and Barbara’s youngest, lives in Taos.

Personal favorites

Gutierrez has much to say about his spare time. “You can’t live in Northern New Mexico and not enjoy the hunting, fishing or camping. My favorite times are those spent with my family. In the summers, we enjoy what we call ‘circle the wagons.’ This means that many family members — brothers, sisters, cousins, my mom, aunts and uncles — take their campers to La Junta Campground, park and enjoy themselves,” he said.

Future plans

Gutierrez admits that he sometimes still wakes up at 3 a.m. because he’s accustomed to working the early morning shift. “I haven’t grasped the idea of retirement yet,” he laughed.

The new retiree revealed some details about himself. “I’m a person who needs to keep going. If an opportunity arrives, I might consider working on a part-time basis. However, it would have to be a job that includes a little independence and one in which I wouldn’t have to punch a time clock so I can work at my own pace,” he said.

In the meantime, Gutierrez’s personal plans include creating a summer garden. He wants to maintain his ditch, build a carport and add on to his shop. At the shop, he enjoys welding, a craft introduced to him by his late father. He has created wrought iron wood racks, end tables and other items.

The Gutierrezes own an RV (recreational vehicle) and plan to use it. A trip to Chicago to visit his wife’s sister remains a possibility. Going “up north” to Yellowstone National Park and a visit to son David Jr. in California remain in the idea phase. Gutierrez calls the travel plans “endless possibilities.”

Final words

“I have a lot for which to be thankful, especially my wife. She’s always there for me and very supportive. We raised three good boys and instilled in them lots of qualities. She’s been a good inspiration. I can’t say enough about that,” Gutierrez said. He concluded the interview by relating the following sentence: “Time flies fast when you enjoy what you’re doing.”