Cheryl Zinn Holcomb

Cheryl Zinn Holcomb died on June 29, 2025 of natural causes in Albuquerque, NM. She was born on July 17, 1947 in Colorado Springs, CO the only child of Gayle and Ethel Zinn. Cheryl graduated from Roy J. Wasson High School (1965), University of New Mexico (1969), with a B.A in Sociology, Arizona State University (1974), with a M.S.W. in Social Work, and TVI (1984) with a Bookkeeping Certificate.

Divorced with no children, Cheryl lived most of her adult life in Albuquerque. She worked as counselor, social services administrator, and grants writer for Native American programs in Arizona, Colorado and New Mexico. Due to physical limitations, resulting from a horse accident in 1988, her career ended with YDI Head Start, and she retired from New Mexico Taxation and Revenue in 2011.

Throughout the years, Cheryl served as a volunteer docent at the Rio Grande Zoo, as a prayer partner at the UNM Aquinas Newman Center), and in an informal card ministry with Hope In the Desert Episcopal Church. Cheryl’s many other interests included playing musical instruments, writing, photography, Native American culture, and Elvis Presley. Her values were for honesty and equality for people. She believed in the power of prayer, Christian spirituality, and having a positive attitude despite adversity.

Cheryl was proud of her diverse heritage—Irish, Swedish, Spanish, Italian, Greek, Turkish and Russian. Her maiden name of Zinn, a Jewish name, was changed from Zinnberg when her father’s ancestors came to America.

A memorial service will be held at Hope In the Desert Episcopal Church, located at 8700 Alameda Blvd NE, on September 6, 2025 at 2 pm.

Donations may be made in her name to either St Bonaventure Indian Mission (Thoreau, NM), or the regional office of the Anti-Defamation League (1120 Lincoln Street, Suite 1301, Denver, CO 80203).