Stephen L. Enders, loving husband, father of two, and retired Director of the Adult Probation Department, passed away on Tuesday, February 26, at age 66. Born in Oakland, California, on March 10, 1946, he became an Eagle Scout in 1962. A graduate of Oakland High School, the University of California at Berkeley, and UTEP, Steve moved to Fabens as a VISTA volunteer in 1968 and never left the borderland region.
He loved traveling, the outdoors, history, photography, and was a fan of the L.A. Dodgers for 58 years. Locally, he enjoyed driving through Mesilla Valley and attending UTEP basketball games and the Plaza Classic Film Festival. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his family. He met his wife, the former Sandra Gabaldón, in 1969 and they enjoyed 42 wonderful years of marriage during which they traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, and countless places in the Southwest.
He is survived by Sandra and their two sons, Eric, a baseball writer, and Mark, a wildlife biologist. He's also survived by a beloved extended family that includes his mother-in-law, Manuela Gabaldón, 12 brothers- and sisters-in-law, 15 nieces and nephews, and his future daughter-in-law, Lara Niell.
Steve joined Adult Probation (now West Texas Community Supervision and Corrections) in 1973 and worked there for 38 years, the last 21 as its director. Under his leadership the department won widespread recognition for its innovative programs, and Steve won both Administrator of the Year (1994) and the President's Award (1998) from the Texas Probation Association. His steadfast devotion to his employees made him beloved by many. He also volunteered with STARS Rape Crisis Center, Keep El Paso Beautiful, Prevent Blindness Texas, and the El Paso Baseball Hall of Fame.
Public visitation will be tonight, March 1, from 5-9 p.m. with a vigil service at 7 p.m. at Mt. Carmel Funeral Home, 1755 N. Zaragosa. Funeral mass will be at 10:15 a.m. Saturday, March 2, at St. Pius X Church, 1050 N. Clark. The star on the mountain will be lit that evening in his memory.
