Henry Rascon Cordova

Henry Rascon Cordova, 89, born on April 20, 1933, in Membres, New Mexico, USA, passed away August 25, 2022. He resided in Covina, CA at the time of his passing. Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Covina Hills on September 16,2022 at 9:30am.

Henry Rascon Cordova passed away peacefully on August 25, 2022, at the age of 89. He was surrounded by his 7 children and former wife. Henry is survived by his sister Clorinda Montoya and 7 children: Regina Schonwetter (Stuart), Tyrone Cordova (Gloria), Diane Creyaufmiller (Tim), Robert Cordova (Chrissy), Daniel Cordova (Claudia), Adriene Cordova and Janelle Cordova. He was a proud grandfather to Henry, Charlotte, Elizabeth, Adelina, Miles, Natalia, Camila, Elliot, Julian and Joseph, and many nephews & nieces. The 9th of 10 children, he is preceded in death by parents George and Tiburcia Cordova (née Rascon), sisters Ramona Cordova, Betty Diaz, and Lumina Gomez, and brothers, Albert, Alvino, Edward, Ernest, and Joe Cordova.

The Cordovas settled in the Mimbres River Valley area of southwest New Mexico in the mid-19th century to labor in the surrounding silver and copper ore mines. In the 1930's they moved to the Boyle Heights district of Los Angeles. He remembered summers and autumns in the San Joaquin Valley going from town to town as a migrant farm worker with his parents and siblings. He was proud that all 5 of his brothers served during World War II or in the Korean War.

After graduating from Roosevelt High School, he attended Los Angeles Trade Technical College receiving an AA degree in Art and Graphic Design. He worked as a janitor at the much-acclaimed Chouinard Art Institute (CalArts) to listen in to the lectures. Before long with the help of the professors, he was able to enroll. In 1955 he married a Boyle Heights native, Adelina Boubion. They were married for 30 years.

In the first half of his career, Henry worked in the advertising business as a creative designer. He quickly progressed and founded his own advertising company, Cordova Associates in 1969. With 6 kids to support, he enrolled at UCLA, received his Real Estate certificate, and dedicated himself to real estate development in the mid-1970s. His first major real estate development was the Elias Chico Health Clinic in East LA.

As a local developer, Henry, actively supported the Chicano movement in L.A in the 1970's. Over the years he built an impressive real estate portfolio, including two HUD housing projects for the elderly, Las Palomas Apartments, a 48 unit building in Boyle Heights; and Casa Serena Apartments, a 29 unit building in El Sereno. In the 1990s he was instrumental in working with LA's soon to be mayor, Richard Riordan, and Sister Jennie to create their Boyle Heights PUENTE Learning Center which predominantly served first generation Latinos. He always was thankful to give back to the community from which he sprang.

Henry always enjoyed the outdoors. He built a cabin in the San Bernardino mountains in the 1960s. He bought a lake side property where he taught his kids to waterski. He learned how to surf at Bolsa Chica and loved skiing the challenging runs at Mammoth Mountain. Most of all he enjoyed returning to the Mimbres Valley in New Mexico often to visit family and friends for deer hunting and other recreation.

Henry's favorite pastime was thoroughbred horse racing. From the 1980's through the 2000s, Henry owned and operated HRC Stable with its blue and green colors. He was proud to be the first Hispanic-owned stable at Santa Anita where he owned, bred, and trained horses to race throughout California. He had victories at all the major state tracks including Santa Anita, Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Los Alamitos, Pomona, Bay Meadows and Golden Gate Fields. Throughout his life, he shared his passion for the races with his brothers, kids, family, and friends.