Hector Rivera-Ortiz

Hector Rivera-Ortiz, 87, retired U.S. Army, died Friday, July 2, 2021. Rosary 7 PM, Thursday, July 8, 2021; Memorial Mass 10 AM, Friday, July 9, 2021, both at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Both will be Live Streamed through St. Thomas' YouTube page or can be viewed by clicking "Watch Event" below. Inurnment will be at Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery, Winfield, KS. Hector is preceded in death by his parents, Liborio Rivera and Juanita Ortiz; 4 children; and 5 siblings. He is survived by his wife, Rosa Julia Maldonado; daughters, Maria (Bert) Medina, Lourdes (David Murray) Rivera; 10 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; and brother, Salvador (Iris) Rivera. Hector was born on September 13, 1933, in Sabana Grande, Puerto Rico. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He did not speak English and immediately sailed to Korea. He served with the 65th Infantry Regiment, “the Borinqueneers,” out of Puerto Rico. He later served as a Civic Action Team Planning Member at the US Army Depot, Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam, and received the Bronze Star. He retired as a SFC out of Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico after 26 years of service. Hector married Rosa Julia Maldonado on 12 May 1955 in San German, Puerto Rico. During his military service, they lived in Germany, Hawaii, Texas, Georgia, New Jersey, and New York. They settled in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where they lived for 40 years. After retiring he dedicated his life to his two daughters, supporting them through high school and college as they both became the first to graduate college in his family. He was a lector and a Eucharistic Minister for many years. He was heavily involved in his community- from the Girl Scouts, to his church community. He was also a USAFA cadet sponsor and PACE ambassador. He will be remembered for his dedication to his family and country, determination to succeed, and passion for life. Services in care of Downing & Lahey East Mortuary.