.jpg)
Juan Pablo Cardenas, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend passed away on June 2, 2024 at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland after complications from throat cancer.
He was born in Colombia in 1955 to Juan Cardenas and Nora Ruiz. He is survived by his wife Claudia Munoz; son JP and his wife Casey; daughter Claudia, her husband Dillon, and her son Liam; stepchildren Valentina and Nicolas; Mother Nora; first wife Norma; sister Maria Eugenia; sister Catalina and her husband Federico; and a host of beloved aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends. In recent years he had reunited with half-sisters Natalia, Juliana, Adriana, and Carmen and their families, feeling an immediate connection of deep love that was reciprocated.
His life was a testament to his unwavering love and dedication to his family and friends, his country, and his passions. He carried a profound love for this country while also maintaining and cherishing his Colombian heritage, sentiments that shaped his character and actions.
A man of honor and courage, he served his nation with distinction, embodying the values of loyalty, duty, and integrity. He began his military career when he joined the U.S. Army at the age of 17 and would retire from military service as a LT Colonel in 2000 after a successful 23-year career as an Army Foreign Area Officer. He served as a White House Policy Analyst in the Office of National Drug Control Policy for Central America and Mexico, worked for the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy offices of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Security Cooperation, and South and South East Asia, received his master’s in National Security Strategy from the National War College in DC, and spent the final years of his career in the Policy Contracts & Finance Office.
Juan made it to retirement from federal service on May 31, just days before his passing after a remarkable 49-year career of combined military and civil service.
In his later years he became an avid cyclist, finding joy and freedom on the open road. His love for cycling was not just a hobby but a way of life that he shared with friends and family. A significant accomplishment included a trip from Buffalo, NY to Manhattan, totaling over 700 miles across 7 days. This was fueled by a related passion for travel which took him all over the world where he embraced new cultures, cuisines, and friendships. He was also a proud grandfather, and it brought him much joy watching his grandson Liam Rey Johnson grow and learn.
Blessed with a great sense of humor, he brought laughter and light into every room, even as he spent his final days in and out of hospitals.
He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and adventure. As we bid farewell to a life so beautifully lived, we take comfort in knowing that his spirit will continue to guide us on our own journeys.
|