Bartolo Hernandez

Dec. 12, 1917 – May 23, 2014

Bartolo Jose Ramon Hernandez a.k.a. Ito, age 96, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, May 23, 2014. From his birth in Cuba, on December 12, 1917 to his death, he nourished everyone around him with love, faith and humor. Bartolo was born at home in Rancho Veloz, L.V., Cuba where he grew up on an oceanfront farm. He was born into wealth and had a great childhood. He loved to raise horses and he loved the ocean. He grew up to become a motorcycle police officer. When he was about 23 years of age, he married Sabina La Rosa Ricano and they had a son, Jose Ramon Hernandez Jr. who was born on June 2, 1942. The three of them lived happily on a beach house not far from his parents farm. Bartolo became a mason on January 29, 1954 as a member of La Gran Logia de Cuba. He would go on to become a 33 degree grand master mason, the highest rank achievable in masonry.

When war erupted in Cuba during the revolution, he fought bravely for the freedom of his country. One of the few survivors, he spent 13 years as a political prisoner in El Circular in Isla de Pino, Cuba. During that time his wife and mother both passed away. He escaped from prison and fled to the U.S. where he made a new life for himself in New Jersey. A hard worker, he became a warehouse operator and eventually a supervisor at Jamesway for over a decade.

In 1967 he met Irene Portomene and one year later they were married. He raised Irene’s daughter from a previous marriage, Carmen Matos, as his own, and later Carmen’s son Joel Valdes. He shared the rest of his life with them and many more, filling them with happiness. He adored all children and people in general. He will always be remembered and greatly missed. He is preceded in death by his Father Bernardino Hernandez, his mother Fabiana Cantillo Campos, his son Jose Ramon Hernandez Jr. and his first wife Sabina La Rosa Ricano. He is survived by his wife Irene Hernandez, daughter Carmen Valdes, grandchildren Joel Valdes, Jose Hernandez, Edgar Hernandez, great grandchildren Aliah Valdes, Jasmine Valdes, Monica Hernandez, Alex Hernandez, Camila Hernandez, and Mathew Hernandez.