Jose Julio Hernandez-Rivera has entered his eternal rest, on April 5, 2023, at age 90.
He was known for his love of music and martial arts. Jose was born in Naguabo Puerto Rico, to Miguel Hernandez-Sierra and Luisa Rivera-Rivera. He graduated from Central San Juan High school in 1950 where he pursued further education until being drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Jose served two years and upon release into the reserves, enlisted in the U.S. Navy from which he retired in 1983, as a Master at Arm Senior Chief. During his military career, he also pursued both Karate (60 years) and Tai Chi (22 years), becoming master instructor in both disciplines.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Carmen Nereida Melendez-Ortiz; his son, Jose Julio Hernandez, Jr.; his brother, Miguel A. Hernandez and his sister, Maria Luisa Hernandez Prieto. He is survived by his children, Ana H. Blackwell, Iris N. Drewery, Miguel A. Hernandez and Louis A. Hernandez; his former wife, Vera S. Hernandez, and their children, Charity F. Hundley (Travis) and Don Leon Hernandez; his former wife, Carole Stoltz; his grandchildren, Christina Hill (Frank), Alyson Flannagan (Sean), Raleigh Crocker (Carrie), Alex Crocker (Heather) and Leigh Ana Milligan (Mike); his great-grandchildren, Bella, Micayela, Sophie, Joel, Nolan, LiliAna, Charlotte and Harper and several beloved nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made at https://www.stjude.org/.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2023 at Weymouth Funeral Home. The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home. Interment will be held at a later date at Albert G. Horton, Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery.
