Oscar Daniel Cardenas

Oscar is survived in life by his beloved mother, Carmen Teresa Villavicencio Cardenas, his brother Juan Cardenas, brother-in-law Guenther Knauder, his life-love Michelle Miclea, children he loved as his own Evan and Emma Miclea, his precious son Oscar Jake Cardenas, who was Oscar’s pride and joy, and his loyal dog Groot. Family was the most important thing in Oscar’s life and they were first and foremost in everything that he did. He is preceded in death by his much adored father, Oscar Salomon Cardenas.

Oscar was born in and grew up in Lima, Peru. He attended the Escuela Naval del Peru (Naval Academy), Class of 1981. He served as a Lieutenant, FOES – Fuerza de Operaciones Submarina del Peru (Frogman) – Special Forces/Peruvian Navy SEAL from 1984 to 1988. He then immigrated to the US and served in the United States Navy from 1991 to 1999. Oscar worked for the Lake Worth Police Department from 1994 to 2008, where he was promoted to the Rank of Sergeant. Through them he also worked alongside the DEA and was part of numerous law enforcement special task forces. LWPD then merged with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in 2008, where Oscar remained working as a Sergeant serving the Lake Worth and Wellington districts up until his death.

In every aspect of Oscar’s career, and in every branch of service or law enforcement agency, Oscar served with distinction. His accolades are so many, they are too long to list here, but his utmost professionalism and heart-felt commitment to the service of others was felt by all who he encountered. He would go above and beyond to help those in need, he would go the extra mile to put the bad guys in jail, and he would always extend a hand of friendship to everyone that he met. “Buddy” was how he addressed all, as he was everyone’s friend and buddy. He was especially beloved in the Hispanic community for all that he did for them. He was a son, a brother, a father, a friend, a Naval officer, a Police officer, a Sheriff’s officer, a Community Policing Officer, an Agent, a Sergeant, and a Lieutenant, but above all of these, he was a most honorable and exceptional man.

Sergeant Oscar Cardenas was 10 days away from retirement when he passed. He battled crime for many years, while simultaneously battling illness, in the ultimate fight for his life. But this is exactly who he was. Never doing less than superior in all his endeavors, never giving up, and always, always putting others before himself. He is a Hero on many levels and he will live on in all of our hearts.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.howard-quattlebaum.com for the Cardenas family.