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Henry Ortiz
November 14, 1948 - February 8,2005
HENRY ORTIZ / TREE / IN MEMORY OF
Motion - Henry Ortiz was a dedicated 26-year City employee whose career began in the Real Estate Office and ended in the Bureau of Engineering. Tragically, at 56-years of age, Mr. Ortiz was a victim of a street crime and died a tragic death in February 2005. Mr. Ortiz was a resident of South Pasadena and a graduate of South Pasadena High School. A Vietnam veteran, Mr. Ortiz was a recipient of the Purple Heart in 1969. Mr. Ortiz is survived by his parents, Ricardo and Maria, and two brothers and one sister. As an employee of the Bureau of Engineering, Mr. Ortiz worked in the Marvin Braude Constituent Service Center in Van Nuys. In honor of his dedication to public service: HEREBY MOVE that the Department of Recreation and Parks plant a tree in the plaza of the Braude Center in honor and memory of Henry Ortiz.
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Steven S Kane (1966)
The above citation has a lot of good information about Henry Ortiz, but it does not give a full picture of the Henry I knew. I remember him as a kind, compassionate human being who never had anything bad or even critical to say about anyone. Henry was unfailingly positive and always smiling. Henry's Purple Heart decoration reflects his quiet determination to do his duty without complaint. Based on the citation, Henry spent his life serving his country and community. What a terrible price we pay for crime. We are greatly diminished by the untimely death of Henry Ortiz.
Evelyn Maria Ortiz (Winchester) (1974)
This is the first time I am reading this post about my beloved brother and best friend, Henry. The above post by Mr. Kane was a kind surprise to read; thank you Mr. Kane and thank you Bruce Eskander for your hard work in keeping the website alive and up to date.
Henry loved the City of Los Angeles, and yes, he was a dedicated worker and good citiizen, also proud to have fought for his country. He was quiet until he was comfortable enough to make everyone laugh who was near him. His laugh was infectious, warm, sincere. He was very talented in the arts, especially in design and enjoyed films and movie music scores. He would buy the LP of a movie soundtrack such as "West Side Story". I learned the words to the dance number "America" before I could write!
We had so much fun going to art shows, movies, concerts in the park/s, all kinds of cultural festivals and parades. He taught me so much about the arts..... Luckily, I told him this before he passed- he was the reason I decided to earn my bachelor's degree in Art.
My mom and dad and I miss him so muich. The three of us and my son, Matthew, did many many things together, little day trips to Descanso Gardens and other such places - even when our parents moved to Lake Havasu City, AZ. for a few years, we dreaded the heat together!
God Bless my brother, Henry. I know he's always near me.