David Robert Henriquez

His life was marked by devotion to his family, service to his country, deep faith, a curious mind, and a wonderful sense of humor. The son of Milton Ishmael Henriquez and Dorothy Shannon Henriquez, David spent his early childhood in Key West before his family returned to Miami. He graduated from Coral Gables High School and went on to the University of Florida, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and participated in ROTC.

After college, David entered the United States Air Force, became a pilot, and served during the Vietnam War. He rose to the rank of major before leaving active military service. During his military career, he also served as an ROTC instructor at the University of Florida. David later began a second career as an air traffic controller, working at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center (Miami Center) until his retirement.

David’s faith in Jesus Christ was at the center of his life. He served his church faithfully, including as an elder, and his faith shaped the way he lived and loved his family. David was curious by nature and enjoyed learning as much as he enjoyed doing. He loved sailing, fishing, and boating and could fix or build just about anything he set his mind to. Electrical projects, woodworking, repairs, and simply figuring out how things worked kept his hands and mind busy. He was an avid reader and a true student of life, always learning, observing, and interested in the world around him.

David also loved sports. He was a devoted University of Florida Gators football fan and enjoyed following the Atlanta Braves. But the people he most enjoyed cheering for were his own. David and Beverly supported their children and grandchildren through Little League baseball and softball, Pop Warner football, cheerleading, high school sports, academic achievements, graduations, and countless other milestones. If they could be there, they were there. If distance or circumstances kept them away, they were still cheering from afar. Their children and grandchildren always knew that David and Beverly were among their biggest fans.

Those who knew David will remember his quick wit and wonderful sense of humor. He enjoyed clever wordplay, loved a good limerick, and could always find a way to bring a little laughter to the moment.

More than anything, David loved his family. He is survived by his beloved wife of 71 years, Beverly Ann Tuttle Henriquez, with whom he shared a lifetime of love, family, and memories. He is also survived by his children, Robert Brian Henriquez; David John Henriquez and his wife, Jaya; and Brenda Jean Pepin and her husband, Paul. He was the proud grandfather of six grandchildren: John Raja Bandela, Israel Henriquez, Laura McInnis, Paul Andrew Pepin, Matthew Pepin, and Mark Pepin, and was blessed with 15 great-grandchildren.

For more than a decade, David and Beverly made their home at Westminster Towers. The Henriquez family is deeply grateful to the staff of Westminster Towers and Westminster Health and Rehab for the kindness, compassion, and loving care they showed to both David and Beverly over the years, and especially for the tender care given to David in his final days.

David lived a full life. He served his country, flew airplanes, guided countless others safely through the skies as an air traffic controller, spent happy hours on the water, worked with his hands, never stopped learning, loved his family well, and walked faithfully with Christ.

One of the quieter but most meaningful parts of David’s life was prayer. He spent many hours talking with his Lord and praying for Beverly, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and others he loved. His family takes great comfort in knowing that the Savior to whom David spoke for so many years in prayer is the Savior in whose presence he now rests. He is now with Christ face-to-face.

We will miss his wit, his curiosity, his laughter, his encouragement, and simply having him with us. But most of all, we are thankful for the husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and man of faith that he was. We grieve his absence, but not without hope. By God’s grace, we look forward to the day when we will see him again.