Joseph Mark Shealy

It is with deep sadness that the family and friends of Joseph Mark Shealy announce his passing. Joe was born March 30, 1962, and passed away peacefully on May 19, 2026.

Joe never met a stranger. Every person was simply a friend he had not yet met. Those who knew him will remember his generous heart, his readiness to help anyone in need, and the kindness he showed to both people and animals alike.

Born and raised in Corrales, Joe was well known in the community and deeply cherished. From a young age, he loved soccer or, as he called it, football, a passion that became one of the defining threads of his life.

Joe remained deeply involved in soccer long after youth coaching, helping grow the sport in Albuquerque. He helped open and operate an indoor arena in the former Iceland hockey rink and, in 1987, helped establish the Albuquerque Outlaws in the new Southwest Indoor Soccer League.

In 1990–1991, he founded, managed, and coached the New Mexico Roadrunners and helped guide their merger with the New Mexico Chiles, sustaining Albuquerque’s first professional soccer team. His leadership helped raise the profile of high-level soccer across the region.

Even after stepping away from active involvement, Joe’s love of the game never faded. He was a familiar presence at local high school matches, UNM Lobos games, and New Mexico United matches, and he remained a devoted follower of Stoke City FC and West Ham United FC.

Joe spent more than 25 years at the UNM School of Medicine’s Employee Occupational Health Services, where he served patients, colleagues, staff, and their families with care, compassion, and professionalism. Beginning in patient registration and chart creation, he pursued night classes at UNM to study computer programming and went on to automate the clinic’s charts and processes, well ahead of his time.

His dedication and foresight led him to become the clinic’s administrator, but he was remembered just as much for his humility, loyalty, and warmth. Joe greeted everyone with a smile, saw the person behind every face, and helped others without ever expecting recognition in return.

Whether on the soccer field, in the workplace, or among family and friends, Joe lived with generosity, loyalty, and quiet dedication. He leaves behind a lasting legacy in the Corrales and Albuquerque communities and will be remembered for the lives he touched, the kindness he shared, and the love he gave so freely.

Joe is survived by his best friend and brother, Edward M. Shealy III, wife, Cristi, of Albuquerque; his sister, Mary M. Shealy Sechser (Tom) of Folsom, California; and his beloved nieces, Jacqueline M. Sechser, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Michelle A. Sechser, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He also leaves behind many dear friends who were family to him in every way.

A celebration of Joe’s life will be announced later this summer. Until then, those who wish to honor his memory are invited to perform a random act of kindness—a simple tribute that reflects the generous spirit with which he lived.