Carla (Weitzman) Hinton, 74, passed away peacefully at her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on July 20, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Carla’s life was defined by her strong belief in social justice, commitment to community as well as artistic talent, demonstrated through creating beautiful art and wearing remarkable jewelry.
She is survived by Rick Hinton, her husband of 50 years; her children, Megan and Sam; her grandchildren, Gavin Robbins, Anson Robbins, and Lyla Gibbens; and her brother, Jason Weitzman. She also leaves behind devoted family and friends.
Carla was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 24, 1951. She faced health challenges from a young age, but never once let them define her or slow her down; a determination that would carry through every decade of her life. At just 17, she left New York to attend the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she earned her BA in studio art.
It was as a preschool teacher that Carla found her true calling: working with children with special needs. That spark grew into an almost 50-year career in school psychology, taking her through public schools in three different states while earning a PhD in school psychology.
In 1989, Carla’s commitment to community and her strong social justice spirit was recognized when the Tucson Jewish Community Center named her a Woman of Valor. She often spoke of how her Jewish heritage shaped her fierce sense of social justice and her devotion to the people around her.
An Albuquerque resident since 2015, Carla never stopped making art. It was a thread that ran through her entire life, from her college days in the studio to her final years. She had a joyful heart, and she loved her friends and reading to children. She had a special soft spot for pit bulls and felt most at peace in the southwestern deserts she called home. Her jewelry collection – an eclectic mix of costume and ethnic pieces had become the stuff of legend among everyone who knew her.
A private memorial will be held at a later date.
