Hermogenes Damo Desierto

With deep love and heavy hearts, we share the passing of Hermogenes Damo Desierto, who left us on August 3, 2025, at 8:30 PM EDT at Baptist Health South Florida, surrounded by family. He passed peacefully after complications from an unstable blood pressure and hemorrhagic stroke.
Hermogenes was born in Tarlac, Philippines, to Gervacio and Magdalena, both of whom died when he was still a teenager. He was later adopted by the Coloma family, who raised him with care and taught him the importance of giving back to family-something he carried with him his entire life.
From early on, he worked hard to help his younger siblings thrive. Over the years, he endured the loss of many of them-Corazon, Clarita, Asterio, Manuel, Mario, Eduardo, Edna, and Merly-and is survived by his sisters Ella and Nilda, both in the Philippines.
Hermogenes studied at the University of the East and later pursued his MBA at Ateneo de Manila University. He built an impressive career, serving as Chief Financial Officer at Univet Laboratories in Mandaluyong.
In 1990, he made the selfless decision to leave his career and homeland to move his family to the United States, supporting his beloved wife, the late Elvira, in building a better future. In her last months, when she needed the most care, he refused the idea of a nursing home-making sure she stayed at home, surrounded by love, comfort, and dignity until the end.
In America, he found pride in his work as a general accountant at Navy Federal Credit Union. He was a skilled investor and steady provider, supporting his five sons and teaching them the values that shaped his life: financial independence, generosity, diplomacy, and humility. Even when imagining something as big as winning the lottery or gaining a lot from his investments, his mind went not to himself, but to how far he could extend help to children, families, and communities in need.
He loved talking about stocks, investing, business, economics, history, and traveling. In his younger days, he enjoyed golf and tennis. He was deeply generous, often to the point where people took advantage of his kindness, but he never let that harden him. He always chose to see the best in people, approached disagreements with diplomacy, and remained patient and kind-even when others were upset with him.
In his later years, he made meaningful efforts to return to the Philippines-to reconnect with friends, spend time with family, and walk once more through the places that had shaped him. Though decades had passed since he immigrated to the United States, his love for his homeland never faded.
He is survived by his children: Howell, Dennis, Carlo, Ryan, and Gregory; and his grandchildren: Alise, Emils, and Warren.
Hermogenes lived with quiet strength, humility, and unwavering devotion to family. His sacrifices, his lessons, and his love will stay with us always.
He is now reunited with his wife, Elvira, his parents, and his siblings who have gone before him. While we miss him deeply, we are grateful for the life he lived and the love he gave.
Rest in peace, Hermogenes. You gave all you had-and you gave it with love. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Hermogenes Damo Desierto, please visit our Tree Store.