My beloved Dad died the morning of Sunday Oct 3rd.

This was not unexpected as he was 95yo and in hospice care. It's been a tough year and he had to endure the pain of burying his 1st born (my oldest brother) in July. Many of you have read bits and pieces about my Dad's life and experiences that I have posted. Here is a bit of a bigger picture written by one of my nieces:

LtCol, USA (Ret.) Francisco “Tony” Antonio Herrera, age 95, was THE patriarch of our large, loving family, and an adoring husband to his late wife Eloisa Hernandez. Tony passed away in the early hours on the 3rd of October, 2022.

Tony was born in Fabens, Texas on August 18, 1927 raised by doting grandparents Bernabe and Margarita, Bernabe was the town Blacksmith. Tony was delighted by telling wholesomely witty jokes, he absolutely loved to sing and to dance, and he had style! He would tap dance in a 3-piece suit at town events even as young as three or four years old. A smart, funny, and dapper young Tony was drafted into the United States (U.S.) Army. The Army recognized his leadership potential, they sent him to school, many schools in fact, and he became a young Army Officer before deploying to Korea the year after he was married. Eloisa “Locha” Hernandez, also from Fabens Texas, grew up nearby – the youngest of the large Hernandez household. She would sometimes be asked by his Tia Mary to cook breakfast for Tony and she was known to walk to Fabens High School to watch Tony play basketball. Locha was the love of his life, Tony’s lifelong dance partner, and his wife since 1952.

Tony served in the U.S. Army for almost 30 years, fought in three wars: World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel – a “Field Grade” Officer with a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Vietnam Gallantry Cross, and so many other Medals. In fact, he had so many highly ranked medals, that when finalizing his plaque at the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial, they asked to see “proof” before they would engrave them all. It was quite unusual during his service for a minority to attain a “Field Grade” rank. The family was always very proud of this, but Tony was always quick to give praise to Locha, and his young family, for their service too. Can you imagine living abroad with two infants and three small children on the grounds of the then liberated Dachau Concentration Camp with a husband off at war? The Army Wife certificate and poem displayed proudly in their living rooms on Churrituck Drive, Mosaic Circle, Khepera Court, and Chesapeake Court, long after they had retired. The Army revealed the world to the young Herrera family. In addition to Germany, the Army took them to Washington State, Fort Gulick Panama where he taught at the School of the Americas, Fort Richardson Alaska where had morning coffee staring across at his Russian counterparts from the last American Island in the Aleutian’s, he stood watch at North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in Colorado Springs, he enjoyed strolling Kalakaua Avenue while at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. They visited and toured through so many places.

After retirement, they settled in San Diego, California, with all five of their children and growing families nearby. This began several new chapters in business, International real estate, and in guiding their children as they began their own careers and started their own families. Tony and Locha adored their family, every gathering was cause for celebration, food, song and dance. They also enjoyed frequent visits to extended family in La Habra, Fresno, and Pomona. They tended to their rose garden, to their grandchildren, and became very dedicated “dance” grandparents. It was in these years that a 20-something year old Tony became a police officer, Helen graduated college and became a financial manager, Liz became a registered cardiac nurse, Fernie became the family’s first classically trained musician, and Eddie a degreed scholar. Symbols of their childrens’ accomplishments are proudly displayed on their headstone, alongside a Blacksmith’s horseshoe (a reference to Herrera family roots), a mason’s brick (a reference to their Hernandez family roots), an artillery cannon, a baby carriage, a cross surrounded by roses, the American Flag, and a saying that “the wonderful Memories in our hearts will never go away”.

Even though he himself did not come from a large family, Tony embraced his role as THE patriarch of his large family. He was a life partner, business partner, dance partner, friend, mentor, and a savior to so many. His was a life extremely well lived and he loved to share his stories, life lessons, and leadership lessons . He knew intuitively when one of us needed a song to soften our hearts and always promised to come in a helicopter if he had to, wherever or whenever, any one of us needed him… and we truly believed him.

Even as he started to lose his physicality, Tony continued to demonstrate tremendous fortitude. He was unapologetically optimistic, with a giddy sense of humor, a true love of life, family, and song that carried him especially during his last 17 years, which he lived without Locha by his physical side, and when he buried his eldest son Anthony “Tony” Herrera earlier this year.

Tony is survived by four of his children Elizabeth, Frances Helen, Edward Lee, and Fernando; 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren

There will be a graveside ceremony with Full Military Honors