It is with great sadness that I adjourn tonight’s meeting in memory of Alex Morales, the longtime park and museum security officer at William S. Hart Park who recently passed away following a short battle with cancer.
Alex had been assigned to Hart Park and Museum for the past six years, and everyone who worked and volunteered at the park knew and loved him for his kindness, helpfulness and generosity.
His main role at the Hart Museum was to follow every tour to ensure the safety of staff, visitors and the collections.
However, he was always happy to help in any way he could.
For example, Alex memorized every fact and story that is part of the museum tour so he could provide more context for guests and make the experience come alive.
He also graciously conducted tours himself in Spanish for the parks Spanish-speaking visitors.
When tours were done for the day, he would patrol the park and make sure everything was safe and secure.
Those who knew Alex knew his love for animals, particularly those living in Hart Park.
He took it upon himself to learn how to safely relocate any snakes found in the park so that the guests and the snakes remained safe.
He also enjoyed checking in on the barnyard animals and alerted staff if he noticed any problems.
Alex gave so much to Hart Park, and his presence will be sorely missed.
Our thoughts are with Alex’s family and friends at this most difficult time.