Former state Sen. Lidio Rainaldi, a conservative Democrat from Gallup, died last weekend at age 90. The son of Italian immigrants, Rainaldi served two terms in the Senate – from 2001 through 2008 – after a lengthy career as both a municipal and state judge.

“He was a gentleman’s gentleman,” said former Senate Democratic floor leader Michael Sanchez of Belén. “He was from the old school – if he gave you his word and you shook hands, there was no question he would stick to it.” Sanchez described Rainaldi as a hard-working senator who was often the first to arrive for legislative committee hearings and the last to leave.