Santa Fe's homegrown televangelist, Belarmino "Blackie" Gonzales, died Wednesday afternoon, a day and a half after he suffered a stroke just two hours before the end of 2007.

"He has gone home to the Lord," said a receptionist at KCHF-TV, Channel 11, which Gonzales founded 23 years ago as the first Christian VHS television station in the nation.

In addition to the Santa Fe television station, operated through the nonprofit Son Broadcasting Co., Gonzales ran an Albuquerque radio station, KDAC-AM, through the for-profit Pan American Broadcasting Co. for 36 years.

Gonzales, 74, was familiar to many as the co-host of KCHF's flagship program, God Answers Prayer, which he began on radio, and as the host of A Healthier You, which often featured unorthodox medical and health practices.

Born and raised in Santa Fe, Gonzales served in the U.S. Army, attended the College of Santa Fe and Trinity Theological Seminary in Albuquerque, taught business courses at the College of Santa Fe and opened his own IBM Training School. An entrepreneur, he also ran an art gallery, gas stations and restaurants.

In the early 1960s, he and brother George Gonzales got into broadcasting by becoming partners with former Gov. John Burroughs in KDCE, a bilingual radio station in Española. Blackie Gonzales later bought KAFE radio in Santa Fe.

George Gonzales, Santa Fe's mayor from 1968 to 1972 and now owner of KSWV radio, said he doesn't recall his brother having a religious conversion. "As far as I'm concerned, he's been very religious since way back when," George Gonzales said, "and let me tell you, he was very strong on that."

Blackie Gonzales' first wife and the mother of his six children, Angie, died in 2002. In 2005, he married Joanne Browne. While he continued to keep a home in Santa Fe, he began to stay more frequently at his second wife's home in Albuquerque.

His daughter, Annette Garcia, said her father exercised regularly and was in good health as he approached his 75th birthday on May 14. But about 10:15 p.m. Monday, as he waited for the New Year at home in Albuquerque, he was hit by a massive stroke.

"They gave him some medication," she said. "However, he ended up hemorrhaging, and so he ended up passing away at 1:35 p.m. (Wednesday) at Presbyterian Hospital.

"He went so peacefully. All of us, the family, his friends stayed with him and read him the Word. ... He was conscious the first day. It was interesting because the stroke hit him where he couldn't talk. But my Dad knew sign language from when he was little. ... He took his hand, his left hand, the only one that worked — he was holding my stepmom's hand — and he told her he loved her in sign language."

Since all four of Blackie Gonzales' living children work at the radio or television station, his death should mean only minimal changes for the broadcasting system, Garcia said. Linda Cobb, his co-host on God Answers Prayer, will continue as the sole host. Garcia said she already had been looking for a new host for A Healthier You because her father's frequent trips to Israel were making him too busy to host the program.

Blackie Gonzales' death was first reported to The New Mexican by Rabbi Leonard Helman. The family obituary says Gonzales had a "special love for Israel" and "dedicated his life in support of the state of Israel and the Jewish people." In 2007, he was recognized at the annual New Mexico Israel Bonds dinner.

Blackie Gonzales received an honorary doctorate of divinity degree from Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Okla., in 2006. He served on the boards of National Religious Broadcasters and Christian Television Broadcasters. He also was state director of Christians United for Israel and a member of the board of World Embassy for Peace and Religious Freedom.

In addition to his first wife, Blackie Gonzales was preceded in death by a son, Gary, and daughter, Cordelia. He is survived by his second wife, Joanne Browne; son Ted and wife, Pamela; daughters Mary Kay Gonzales, Vickie Archiveque and husband, Anthony; Annette Garcia and husband, Jim; stepsons Jhett Browne and wife, Jolyn; Lance Browne and wife, Melissa; 16 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; brothers George Gonzales and wife, Celine; Jose Gonzales and wife, Mary; and sister-in-law Josie Gonzales.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday at Calvary Chapel, 4001 Osuna Road NE, Albuquerque. Those planning to attend are asked to call 690-7883. In lieu of flowers, gifts can be sent to Son Broadcasting, P.O. Box 4338, Albuquerque, NM 87196.

Contact Tom Sharpe at 986-3080 or tsharpe@sfnewmexican.com.