Hernando Donosso

Hernando Donosso passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. He was born on Valentines Day was in Colombia in 1936. He was one of seven children. His father was an electrician, and his mother was a laundress. Hernando loved music and food, especially ice cream. As a youth he traveled to different cities in Colombia to participate in cha-cha-cha and mambo dance competitions. He met his wife Haydee while working as her father’s chauffeur and was smitten at once. After moving to California, he wrote Haydee letters for several years, until he persuaded her to marry him in 1971. Haydee joined him in California where they welcomed their daughter Yvette, followed by Irish Twins Hernando and Ricardo (Ric). While in California, Hernando worked as an automotive mechanic at Continental Trailways.

In 1986, the Donosso family moved to Miami, where Hernando drove an ice cream truck. His customers called him “Papi.” He was known for his cheeky sense of humor and generous heart, often allowing poor families to have open-ended tabs. A favorite family story is a time when Hernando was working with Ric during the Miami Riots, and a group of gang members (who had grown up buying ice cream from Papi) parked their cars in front of the ice cream truck to stop looters from “messing” with Papi.

After he retired, Hernando and Haydee moved to Utah to be close to grandkids. In Utah, Hernando continued to be a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. He held many callings including Branch President and Stake Patriarch and made wonderful friends in his Spanish Branch. Hernando was a man of great faith. He was known for expressing gratitude and exuding calmness, his favorite saying was “Take It Easy.”

Hernando did not lose his curiosity or happy spirit despite his battle with Alzheimer’s. In his later years, he loved spending time sitting on the porch and “people watching.” Even near the end, as his family discussed palliative care with him, he said all he wanted was a party with “lots of dancing and tequila.” Thank you to all who joined him at his “Goodbye Celebration.”

Hernando considered his family his greatest achievement. He often said, “God blessed me with such a beautiful family.” He is survived by his wife, Haydee, daughter Yvette, son Ric, as well as his 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his oldest son, Hernando (Ernie). Services will be held on Friday, May 22, 2026, at 4pm at the Midvale 9th Spanish Ward located at 7825 Olympus Street, Midvale, UT 84047.