OFFICER CHRIS CORTIJO
The Hunter Family suffered a big loss as LAPD officer Chris Cortijo, a 1981 graduate of Canoga, died due to injuries he suffered while on duty in Sun Valley.
Cortijo, who attended Columbus Junior High before coming to Canoga, played middle linebacker on the Bee football team as a sophomore and was named "Class Tall-Tale Teller" by his peers as a senior.
Officer Cortijo was killed as he waited on his police motorcycle for the light to change at the intersection of Saticoy and Lankershim on April 9, 2014. He was struck from behind by a motorist who was arrested at the scene for driving under the influence. The driver was arraigned on charges of manslaughter last week.
Cortijo received a hero's funeral from the LAPD this week (April 22, 2014), a department he served in for 27 years. He was eulogized by Chief Beck, as well as by his family and former partners.
Upon graduating from Canoga in 1981, Chris joined the Marine Corps, where he served from 1982 to 1986 as a military policeman. He leaves behind three children and four grandchildren. He will be missed by his Hunter friends and fellow classmates who remember him as a loyal friend and true Hunter.
Written by:
Mark Nogy - Classmate and Friend
Posted on April 30, 2014