Rene J. Herrera

Rene J. Herrera, 96, died at home on Sunday, August 16, 2015. He was born on February 2, 1919 in Havana, Cuba to Sarah Garcia de Herrera and Rene Herrera Fritot. Rene received a PhD in Public Finance and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Havana. He had his own CPA firm in Cuba and was a tax expert. He held top positions as head of Income Tax and other taxes in the Cuban Ministry of Finances. Rene met the love of his life, Marita Capestany, through their parish Catholic Youth Organization in Cuba. They were married on July 11, 1943, and celebrated 72 years of marriage last July. Rene led an exemplary Catholic life, and his faith was most important to him. In 1956, Rene received an award from the Pope known as the Cross of Honor, the highest medal that can be awarded to the laity for distinguished service to the church. In 1961, as Castro was turning Cuba into a Communist state, Rene and Marita decided to leave their beloved country to raise their children in a free society. At 42 years of age, and at the top of his professional career, he and Marita made the decision to leave Cuba permanently with their family of seven children. The family settled in Olympia, Washington, where Rene started work at the Liquor Control Board. He worked there for the next 25 years, retiring in 1986 as the Assistant Controller in the Finance Department. Rene was very active at St. Michael Catholic Church. In 1974, he became the first Eucharistic Minister. As such, he volunteered at St. Peter Hospital. He was Chairman and Founder of the Finance Committee and Chairman of the Pastoral Council at St. Michael’s Church. With his wife, Marita, he was Coordinator of the Vietnamese Resettlement Program. From 1990, until close to his 90th birthday, he was Treasurer of Homes First, a non-profit that provides low-income families with housing. In 2000, he was nominated by St. Michael Parish for the Archbishop Hunthausen Humanitarian Award. Rene was a kind, loving, gentle man who will be missed greatly by his large family and many friends. Surviving Rene are his wife, Marita; children, Rene E. Herrera, Eliana Vosberg, Pepe Herrera, Lourdes Collins, Esther Corcoran, Carlos Herrera, and Edward Herrera; sons and daughters-in-law, Rhonda McCunn, Gene Vosberg, Jean Herrera, Steve Collins, Ken Corcoran, and Melany Vorass Herrera; 14 grandchildren, plus numerous great and great-great grandchildren. Rene is also survived by two sisters, Gema Casanas of Olympia, and Myriam Maymir of Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services. Please leave memories of Rene or condolences for his family in the Guestbook below.