Dr. Richard Wayne Albin

Sir Albin, age 86, peacefully passed away on December 6, 2022, in El Paso, Texas.  Richard was born in Pekin, Indiana on June 17, 1936; the youngest of two sons born to Lee Howard Albin and Ermine Royalty Albin. Predeceased by his parents Lee and Ermine Albin and his elder brother, Donald Royalty Albin.  He was predeceased by two sons, Brian Matthew Albin, and John Michael Albin, and a granddaughter, Nicole Albin.

Survived by his wife of 43 years, Myrna Cuarón Albin.  His children: Curtis Mark Albin, Jennifer Lee Morrisette, Rebecca Lynn Algoe, Peter Barton Albin, Andrew Blake Albin and Robert Cuarón D’Avignon. Survived by 17 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great-grandchildren.

Dr. Albin spent over 20 years in Hartford, Ct., where he taught at the University of Hartford, Central Connecticut State University, Trinity College; finishing the Ct. Chapter as Director of the Greater Hartford Campus Ministry in Hartford.

1976 was a year of change, moving to El Paso, TX as a campus minister and instructor in religion at the University of Texas. He spent 31 years at UTEP as a campus minister, and chairperson of the religion department, and taught religion, Bible, speech, cultural diversity, and counseling.   

Richard was a man of deep religious conviction and manifested it in all aspects of his life. Both his parents were teachers and devout Christians.  They had prayer and bible reading every night and went to church every Sunday.

He grew up in Evansville, Indiana, and attended elementary and secondary schools. He was recognized for his excellence in academics and sports. Among several accomplishments, he was recognized as Indiana State Boy of the Year. Awarded several scholarships, chose to attend Vanderbilt University, and graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy. After, completed several Master’s Degrees:  from Harvard Divinity School; Sacred Theology from Yale Theological School; and Counseling from UTEP. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut.

In 1965, Richard and a group of church members went to Selma Alabama to join in the Civil Rights Movement March.  There he observed unimaginable tragedies and witnessed death and hatred. Once back home Richard began to incorporate into his college courses, what he had seen and learned in Selma, Alabama. This experience profoundly amplified his passion for tangible impact and positive change for all humanity, and forever changed Richard’s life spiritual and personal life.

During his years of ministry, Richard was a parish pastor, campus minister, university teacher, and full-time professional counselor.  Before his conversion to Roman Catholicism, he was an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Prior to his conversion, he read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and attended Mass every Sunday with his wife. The Holy Mass resonated with him very strongly and after several years made the decision to convert to Catholicism.

Within in a few years, he was bidden to begin the formation process for the Permanent Deacon Formation Program of Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was ordained as Permanent Deacon in July 2005 and assigned to serve as Deacon at Holy Cross Catholic Parish in Las Cruces under Monsignor John Anderson until his retirement. 

After his ordination to the Diaconate, he was called to speak at conferences, teach Bible, and be an instructor for the El Paso and Las Cruces Dioceses Deacon Formation Program. He was a frequent teacher/speaker at both Dioceses.

After leaving campus ministry, Richard continued to teach courses at UTEP in Multicultural Education, Cross-Cultural Counseling, and Youth at Risk. He taught Philosophy and Religion at El Paso Community College. At the University of Phoenix, he taught Western and Eastern Religions, Philosophy and Humanities. In early 2000 he started teaching in the UTEP Osher Lifelong Learning Program for 55+ year-old adults. His joy for teaching the Bible, the Gospels, the Prophets, the Parables of Jesus, the Old and New Testament, Letters of Paul, Psychology of Religion, and the Ten Commandments shined through every day of his life.   

Sir Albin was a man of great emotional intellect and was the first to share the hardships he faced along his life journey. No topic was off limits and through his humility and transparent style, touched thousands of lives for the greater.

We want to thank the staff at Home Sweet Home for the care and love they offered Richard throughout the last months of his life; with bespoke care, the utmost dignity, and compassion.

Richard will be missed by his family across the United States, especially his wife, Myrna, and his extended family. To those close to him, he provided years of personal spiritual guidance, study, and unwavering compassion. No doubt many other friends, colleagues, and students, across the US and aboard no doubt have similar stories and miss the passion and devotion shared with us all. 

Dear Richard, we bid you farewell, and may you rest in God’s bosom now and always. We will always remember you with love and care.

A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM, with a Rosary at 4:00 PM at Sunset Funeral Home-West. A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, January 5, 2023, at 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Cathedral, 1118 N Mesa St, El Paso, TX 79902. Interment to follow at 12:15 PM at Mount Carmel Cemetery.  A celebration of Richard’s life will be held immediately following the burial. At approximately 1:30 PM local time, the reception shall commence at El Paso Country Club, 5000 Country Club Pl., El Paso, TX 79922.   

The family kindly requests your RSVP to the email SirRichardAlbin.Reception2023@gmail.com with your name and party size, or via phone (214) 335-6844 so the family and EPCC may better plan attendance.

Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home-West, 480 N. Resler Dr.