Alfredo Hernandez was born in Guadalajara, Mexico on Oct. 28, 1944. The beloved son of Maclovia and Edmundo, he was the eldest of seven children.
Alfredo first heard and hung onto the idea of coming to Alaska, from a radio advertisement while in high school. After finishing school, he worked as a city clerk, enjoying this. Had he continued, he most certainly would have excelled, but Alaska was calling to him.
While working in California, he heard of the possibility of a job in the Aleutians, and he seized the opportunity. He arrived in Alaska for the first time in 1966. He loved it, and returned again in 1968, this time to Cordova, and loved it even more. He continued to return every year.
In May of 1971, he was introduced to Rita Muma. The following summer while both working at the New England Fish Company, they saw each other again, and that was that. A beautiful blonde and Cordova stole his heart forever.
One could speak of the countless jobs he held throughout his life; the people he met, the people he helped, the things he accomplished, but what truly had meaning, was the love he had for his family. It was the little, wonderful, sweet things in life that mattered most to him. He was dedicated to caring for his family and had nothing but love for them. A million words could not describe the love he gave. It was truly a gift. His grandsons wanted people to know that he loved art (especially making macramé pieces, sketching, photography, cooking, playing guitar, listening to all types of music, the theater and watching films).
Alfredo suffered a stroke on Tuesday, March 3, and passed away on Monday, March 16. He will be staggeringly missed by Rita Hernandez his true love of 48 years, his daughter Anna Hernandez and son-in-law Malvin Fajardo, son Benjamin Hernandez and daughter-in-law Erin Kimber, grandsons Eoghan and Jonas Hernandez-Fajardo, his sisters, brothers and many family and friends.
There will be no service, but cards may be sent to Rita Hernandez, P.O. Box 686, Cordova, AK 99574.
