Enrique Hernandez Obituary

HERNANDEZ-#1>Enrique "Hank" Hernandez, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, died Sunday evening, December 18, of cancer at his home in San Marino. He passed away quietly in t he arms of his loving wife, Bertha. Hank was a native of Jerome, Arizona, and moved to Los Angeles with his parents and eight siblings in 1941. Always the entrepreneur, Hank helped support his family during primary and secondary schools by working a variety of jobs, including shining shoes and laboring as an apprentice at a Vernon slaughterhouse. At the age of 17, he entered military service with the U.S. Army, initially stationed in Japan. Rising to the rank of staff sergeant, he saw combat duty in Kore a, where he received numerous decorations. Upon leaving military service, Hank returned to Los Angeles and began his career in law enforcement in 1953, when he entered the Los Angeles Police Department. He advanced in the department during the course of a storied twenty year career, attaining the rank of lieutenant in the Detective Bureau. Amongst his assignments Hank worked in Burglary, Robbery/Homicide and the department's exclusive Scientific Investigation Department. Hank was instrumental in the inve stigation of the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy by Sirhan Sirhan, leading the conspiracy component of the inquiry. Hank also was a founder of the Latin American Law Enforcement Association, an organization which today serves Hispanic officers throughout the L.A.P.D. Upon the completion of twenty years of active service in the L.A.P.D. Hank and Bertha founded Inter-Con Security Systems. A business that literally began on the kitchen table of their Monterey Park home, Inter-Con grew to become a pr emier, global provider of high-level private security services. Inter-Con, based in Pasadena, provides services throughout 19 countries with an employee base of over 25,000. Hank was Chairman and CEO of Inter-Con until his retirement in 1995. Hank's career reflects the accomplishments of one of the most respected and leading Hispanic businessmen in Los Angeles. His wit, tenacity, empathy, business acumen and intense love of life will be missed by all. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Bertha Amelia Hernandez, his sons Enrique (Megan) Jr. and Roland (Margarita), his daughter Yvonne (Ted) Slaught, grandchildren Henry, Patrick, Michael, Kevin, Mireya, Roland Scott, Charlie and Katherine Hernandez; and Brian, Diane and Alex Slaught; brothers Marcos (Estela) and Victor (Bertha); and sisters Juvelinda (Ike) Rodriguez and Graciela (Louis) Iniguez. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 22, 2005, at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1527 Fremont Avenue, South Pasadena. Donations can be ma de to the Enrique Hernandez Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Loyola High School, 1901 Venice Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90006, Attn: Mr. Bill Slocum. Callanan Mortuary Directors (800)901-0090