With valiant efforts, Henry continued to epitomize the man of character he was. He was quick to smile, fun to be with, and a fierce defender of that which is right. Heaven will surely enjoy his presence.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Margarita and Alfonso Miranda, siblings, Alfonso Miranda Jr., Manuel Miranda, Rodolfo Miranda, and Sophia Massey.
Henry is survived by his wife of 40 years, Blanche R. Salvera, son, Henry Salvera Jr., daughter, Cynthia A. Salvera, (both from previous marriages), as well as his sister, Annie Saenz. Henry also had 4 step-sons who were a huge part of his life who loved him dearly as he loved them, Gerald Mendoza, Ronald Mendoza, Elias Geronimo Garza Jr., David Rogelio Garza. He is also survived by his only remaining sibling, Annie Saenz; as well as numerous grandchildren.
Henry was always a responsible person. He retired after 40 years with San Antonio Public Works Management. He began working at a tender age, early teens. He began working for the city's solid waste management at a time when the city still used incinerators to burn the city's trash, utilizing flatbed trucks. Every day he would board a city bus at Teresa St. all the way to E. Houston St. where the bus route ended, by the coliseum, where he walked (before daybreak), all the way to the zoo where they had the city facility for the Public waste management.
Many years later he raised himself up in the ranks up to a superintendent where he became a great example of what setting and accomplishing your own goals is. Henry showed this example to all of his siblings which they all followed. He was instrumental in originating the environmental management system in which we now use the mechanical waste management collection system. He contributed to changing from a manual to a mechanical hydraulic system. Thereby the truck now is push-button versus manual manpower. He said "bigger trucks (bigger population), more pick up, less back problems." He would go from attending daily meetings at downtown City Hall alongside, the then mayor, Lila Cockrell; with pro temp Henry Cisneros where Henry Salvera began his great accomplishment for the city of San Antonio by traveling to Scottsdale, Arizona to survey; thereby taking intellectual perception, reaching range and of sight and expectations of this "could be" new mechanical system of solid waste management collection. Moving forward this is the system the city of San Antonio is now utilizing.
While employed for the city of San Antonio Henry also worked for the Bexar County Sheriff's Department part-time as a fugitive felon warrant officer and held the rank of Lieutenant from which he had to retire due to an injury he sustained on his left ankle while pursuing a fugitive felon in the far south side of town. He sustained a severe compound fracture while attempting to jump over an old fence that gave way and brought him to the ground. Henry had an extremely high tolerance for pain. Henry the great patriarch of his family, always the leader, always had the last word and was always respected by all who were lucky and blessed to have had him in their lives.
Services for Henry will be at a later date.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.funerariadelangelpaloalto.com for the Salvera family.
