Joseph Salamanca

“

He had a passion for cycling and would often vanish for hours on a long weekend bike ride.

A beloved husband, father and grandfather, Joseph “Jose” Hernando Salamanca passed away on June 27th, 2026 at the age of 86. Hernando, as his family called him, was the son of Ismenia and Marco Antonio, born on the 17th of March 1940 in Bogota, Colombia. He came from humble beginnings and a family of hard workers. As a child he sold flowers outside a cemetery and left school early to help support his loved ones, eventually training in automotive mechanics. One day he met Fanny, his future wife of 57 years, while working at her family’s home. They married on December 28th, 1969.

Seeking a better life and future for his family, Hernando migrated to the United States in the late 1960s with the little he had saved up and eventually settled in Southern California. He and Fanny went on to have four children. He worked for the Southern California Rapid Transit District and LA County Metropolitan Transportation Authority for a combined total of 44 years before retiring at the age of 75.

An early riser, Hernando filled his days with exercise, reading, maintaining his prized 1974 Superbeetle, and tinkering with home improvement projects. He had a passion for cycling and would often vanish for hours on a long weekend bike ride. After filling his day with activities, you could find him cheering on his favorite soccer team, laughing at the over-the-top antics of the “wrestlers” on WWE, or indulging in the melodrama of a Spanish language telenovela. During retirement, he and his wife finally got to realize their dream of seeing the world by visiting several countries spanning over five continents.

Hernando will be remembered as a self-made man, driven by a desire to provide the best he could for his family. His steadfast belief in God guided his core values of faithfulness, generosity, honesty, selflessness and fortitude. At the end, he was accompanied by family in the hospital where his loved ones were able to say goodbye and express their profound gratitude and love for him before the pain of his ailments were finally put to an end. Hernando is survived by his wife, Fanny and four children (Ingrid, Herbert, Jennifer and Jesse) as well as three granddaughters (Isabella, Sofia and Nina).

“

His steadfast belief in God guided his core values of faithfulness, generosity, honesty, selflessness and fortitude.

In lieu of flowers, the family is suggesting a donation to Hernando’s church, Calvary Chapel Golden Springs located in Diamond Bar, CA or the Los Angeles Mission which provides services for the homeless.