Celestino Ernesto Archuleta

Celestino (Tino) Archuleta passed away peacefully on April 11th at his home in Manitou Springs, Colorado. He was born on April 7, 1932, in La Garita Colorado located in the San Luis Valley to Delfina and Benigno Archuleta. Celestino was preceded in death by his wife Marcella; his parents; and his ten sisters and two brothers. He is survived by his children Cathy, Dennis (Moira), Anthony (Rhoda), Paul (Donna) and Maria (Barry); his grandchildren Nicholas, Katherine (Tim), Nathan (Nicole), Carolyn (Trevor), Alex, Ryan, Landon, Oscar (Harley) and Joseph (Amy); his great- grandchildren Benjamin, Ariana, Oliver, Sam, Luna, Emma, Francisco, and Ander.

After graduating high school in Center, Colorado in 1952, Celestino served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He then received a B.A. degree from Adams State College in 1959 with extended self-research course studies in theoretical mathematics and physics. He later augmented his education by taking courses in advanced physics, including Quantum physics, at the University of Colorado Extension Center in Colorado Springs, now the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Upon graduating from Adam State College, Celestino taught advanced mathematics and physics in Colorado at Walsenburg High School for one year while waiting for an opportunity to start his career in the field of science.

In 1960, Celestino began work in Colorado Springs as a staff research scientist for Kaman Sciences Corporation, a division of Kaman Aircraft Corporation. While at Kaman, he worked on nationally recognized programs, participating and managing projects for scientific research and computer-based modeling in nuclear effects, including nuclear missile defense war games. His later responsibilities in business development and management of software development contracts for the U. S. Department of Defense. In 1979, he joined DMA Corporation where he introduced the company to compete for various government software development contracts.

In 1980, Celestino started his own company, National Systems & Research Company (NSR), specializing in information system development and information system operation support on contracts with the Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Energy (DOE), and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) among other agencies of the Federal Government. After serving over 20 years as President, CEO, and the Chairman of NSR’s Board of Directors, he retired in 2003 when he sold NSR. Celestino was always proud of experiencing the thrill of taking a start-up company of five software engineers and building it to where it peaked in the late 1990s with over 700 employees with offices located throughout the United States. Placing a high emphasis on ethical business practices and human values, NSR was highly successful during the peak of the Computer and Information Age. Throughout his career, Celestino always felt a deep sense of pride to have worked side-by-side with industry-known nuclear scientists and some of the brightest high-technology software engineers. He was always cognizant that the success of NSR was due to the contributions of many talented employees and had immense pride seeing all their accomplishments. After retirement, Celestino maintained an interest in business by establishing and providing oversight of Second Wind Enterprises, LLC, a commercial leasing company.

Throughout Celestino’s professional career, Celestino served on board of directors in Colorado Springs for Norwest Banks, Wells Fargo Bank, Goodwill Industries, and United Way. He was a member and served as Chairman of the Latin American Management Association Board of Directors that was based in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Mr. Archuleta served with the Colorado Space Advisory Council and Congressman Joel Hefley Defense Business Advisory Council. In 1992, Governor Roy Romer appointed him to the Colorado Executives for an Opportunity Advisory Board. He was awarded Ernst & Young’s 1990 Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Seymour Cray’s 1997 Technology Entrepreneur of the Year Award as well as many other business-related awards. After his retirement he served on the Board of Directors for Penrose-St. Frances Health Foundation.

Having a special bond with the place where he was born and having great enjoyment for outdoor sports, Celestino and his family returned regularly to the San Luis Valley where they enjoyed time in the mountains camping and hiking, rock climbing, fishing, and skiing. The Valley always had a great significance as a special place because it was where the foundation of Celestino’s Catholic faith began with his father and mother. It was through their teachings that Celestino came to understand and became dedicated to his Catholic faith. He lived his faith daily through his relationships with his family and friends as well as extending gifts of support where needed.

In 2009, he worked alongside his family to restore the St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, a historical mission church in La Garita, Colorado; worked to protect the remaining walls of the church’s convent through the construction of a monument dedicated to St. John the Baptist; and supported the construction of the St. John Paul II Rosary Walk. These projects are protected and maintained through the Archuleta Family Foundation to preserve the Catholic traditions of the Hispano culture by commemorating their historical presence of early Catholic settlers of La Garita. As a result, all of these structures now encompass a spiritual center that inspires contemplative prayer, enhanced by a beautiful setting for Catholics and all visitors. Celestino’s family and cherished friends, who have supported this effort, will continue to take care of the San Juan Catholic Spiritual Center, to honor Celestino’s legacy and those of his ancestors who, in the 1800s, joined together in La Garita’s Hispano community to build their church.

Visitation and Rosary service for Celestino will be held Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., followed by a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 2030 W. Colorado Ave., Colorado Springs, Colorado. A graveside burial service will take place at Carnero Creek Cemetery in La Garita, Colorado on Thursday, April 25, 2024, at 1:00 p.m.