Orlando was born in Santa Fe in 1945. His family came with the first settlers in 1598. On his father’s side they were Romero and López, and on his mother’s side they were Romero and Rivera.

Orlando has been a ‘‘santero’’ (saint maker) for many years, carving wood images of Saints, because he has a deep profound connection with his faith. The Santero tradition began to emerge in the small villages of Northern New Mexico in the 18th century when official church supplies from Spain and Mexico dried up and a demand to create locally made religious art became apparent.