Nick Cruz Herrera

We sadly announce the loss of Nick C. Herrera, Portland's first Mexican American brewery owner. He was born on May 14, 1977, to Cruz and Elena Herrera of Kingsburg. He attended all the schools, from Pre-school through high school and participated in football, tennis and band. In jazz band he played the alto saxophone and was called by some, the "Freshman Sensation". Nick graduated from Kingsburg High in 1995 and attended Reedley College for two years before transferring to UC Davis. He graduated from UC Davis with a Degree of Bachelor of Science majoring in Genetics in 1999. He was accepted into the graduate program of Biological Sciences at the Salk Institute, affiliate of UC at San Diego and obtained his Doctorate Degree in Microbiology in 2001. Nick stayed in San Diego and work in Biotech and the brewing industries until 2018 when he moved his family to Portland, Oregon. He was immediately hired by the owner of Labrewatory and Portland Kettle Works, a brewing-equipment manufacturer. Nick learned all the different discipline in science while in graduate school; math, physics, chemistry and biology, which according to him are all used in brewing and he felt he had an advantage. The Labrewatory owner would frequently send him to Mexico City to teach prospective buyers on how to use the equipment and brew beer. It was there that he met restaurant owner, Angel Medina, and together they launched a project that was about to open soon. After the pandemic caused Labrewatory to close, Nick went to work as a procurement manager at Multnomah Athletic Club, an organization with 22,000 members. He still dreamed of having his own brewery and collaborated with other breweries producing a series of brews, eventually founding Entre Compas, which loosely means, "Among Friends". Nick was preceded in death by his paternal and maternal grandparents. He is survived by his wife, Kelly Key Herrera, sons Cruz Key Herrera and Ezekiel "EZ" Key Herrera, all of Portland, his parents Cruz and Elena Herrera of Kingsburg, his sister, Vivian Zettle and her husband Bryan, niece, Emily Zettle and nephew Noah Zettle, all of Encinitas, CA. A quote from Angel Medina, "To think that we were 2 months from the finish line breaks my heart, but yet at the same time it makes me rethink what exactly that finish line was. Entre Compas, forever." Rosary will be held 6:00 PM Wednesday, November 30th, 2022 at Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel, 1588 Lincoln Street, Kingsburg. Memorial Mass services will be held at 11:00 AM Thursday, December 1st, 2022 at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1275 Smith Street, Kingsburg immediately followed by inurnment at the Kingsburg Cemetery, 12782 E. Clarkson Avenue, Kingsburg. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Creighton Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Nick Cruz Herrera

May 14, 1977 - November 16, 2022