Former Lobo Rich Diller Service Friday
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A celebration of life for Rich Diller, a three-year letterman with The University of New Mexico Football team from 1971-73 whose name still dots the record books for UNM, will be held on Friday, January 18 at 11:00 a.m. at Sandia Presbyterian Church, located at 10704 Paseo Del Norte NE.
Diller passed away on Friday, January 4 after a hard-fought battle with cancer.
A pillar of the community for over 45 years after coming to Albuquerque to play football for the Lobos in 1970 from Phoenix, Diller made Albuquerque his home. He became entrenched in the community as a commercial real estate broker, but for all his exploits professionally (earning several “Realtor of the Year” awards during his career), he was known for his loyalty to UNM.
Along with his exploits on the gridiron, he was a member of the Lobo Football First Team, the Lobo Club and he was a lifetime member of the UNM Alumni Letterman’s Association. Outside of UNM, he volunteered time as a Big Brother in Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Central New Mexico.
Despite not carrying a football at UNM for 46 years, Diller still ranks 21st in career rushing at UNM with his 1,840 yards. He served as a captain of the 1973 squad along with Don Hubbard and Don Woods. Playing alongside quarterback Rocky Long in 1971, Diller took over running back duties from the graduated Sam Scarber, who was just inducted into the UNM Sports Hall of Honor in October of 2018. That 1971 team rushed for a school record 4,229 yards, and a school record 384.5 yards per game.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Rich may be made to the Albuquerque Community Foundation noting the Rich Diller Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 25266, ABQ, NM 87125 or online at albuquerquefoundation.org.