Hanford site worker remembered for service to family, country and community

The Hanford nuclear site worker who died unexpectedly on the job last week was a proud father and empathetic mentor, say his friends, family and co-workers.

The former police officer and Army combat veteran was “always willing to go the extra mile, stay to the last second and ensure others were taken care of before himself,” said a GoFundMe account created to support his family.

Rolando Hernandez, 42, grew up in Othello and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2006. He was assigned to the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, completing two combat deployments, one in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the other in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He served as an officer for the Othello Police Department — his dream job — for five years, according to the online post by his sister.

He served “with integrity, professionalism and a commitment to improving his community, that he loved dearly,” it said.

After his Army service, he served with two brothers in the Washington National Guard. His assignments included a deployment in support of the Joint Multinational Training Group Ukraine.

“Rolando was known as an empathetic leader, a man who could balance the mission and the soldiers, (and) a master at his craft as an infantryman and a mentor to many,” the fundraiser said.

He became the first in his family to graduate from college, earning a double bachelor’s degree at Washington State University and a master’s from American Military University.

Friends said he was “a family man, through and through,” and the proud father of an 18-year-old daughter. He was able to see her accepted at Gonzaga University in Spokane, the college of her dreams, before his death.

He enjoyed hanging out with his family, watching sporting events, having barbecues and providing “sound advice,” said the post.

He was a commissioning technician at the vitrification plant at Hanford and was working the overnight shift when he stepped outside just before 6 a.m. and collapsed on April 16.

The massive vitrification plant at Hanford is preparing to start glassifying radioactive waste this summer for disposal. The waste was left from the past production of plutonium from World War II through the Cold War at the nuclear reservation for the nation’s nuclear weapons program. No waste is currently onsite at the plant.

The Benton County Coroner’s Office has yet to release what caused his death. However, his family says he died of natural causes, and Hanford officials also have said that his death was not related to his work site.

Died surrounded by friends

Hernandez died surrounded by some of his closest friends, said the post.

Bechtel National, the vitrification plant contractor, said CPR was immediately begun by fellow workers and that medical staff arrived within minutes to take over life-saving measures. But Hernandez died before he could be taken to a hospital.

Work was paused for part of Wednesday while Bechtel supported its workers.

Bechtel National spokesperson Staci West said last week, “Our thoughts are with ... family loved ones and colleagues during this very difficult time.”

Mueller’s Greenlee Funeral Home, Pasco, is handling his arrangements. Services are planned in Othello on Monday and Tuesday, April 28-29.

He is survived by his daughter, Chloe Hernandez, and his parents, Roy and Maria Hernandez.