About these remarks
The following is a transcript of remarks delivered by Martha Karolina Rojas Alvarez on July 16, 2026. She was joined by her sister-in-law, Daniela Duran Guerrero. The remarks were translated by Keyko Torres.
They are reproduced here in full and unedited, at the family's request that Johan be remembered as the husband and father he was.
A note on language
Martha Karolina spoke these words in Spanish. Her original Spanish is printed in the right-hand column and is never machine-translated — if you switch this site into another language, that column stays exactly as she said it. Only the translation column changes.
He was a responsible man, a hard worker devoted to his family. He always dreamed big, and he had so many dreams left to fulfill.
Era un hombre juicioso, trabajador entregado a su familia. Soñaba siempre en grande y tenía muchos sueños por cumplir.
He was always happy—and his joy was contagious. He loved to work; he couldn't stand sitting still.
Siempre estaba feliz, él contagiaba a los demás con su alegría, le gustaba trabajar, no le gustaba estarce quieto.
From the moment we met, we never separated again.
Desde el momento en que nos conocimos, nunca más nos separamos.
We were always one.
Siempre fuimos uno solo.
He was always watching over me so that I never lacked anything; he did everything to see me happy. He always said I was his life, and that he dreamed of a whole lifetime with me—he always told me, "Until we're little old people."
Siempre estaba pendiente de mí, que nada me faltara, hacía todo por verme feliz. Siempre decía que yo era su vida y que soñaba toda una vida conmigo; siempre me decía "hasta viejitos."
He was a man of the smallest thoughtful gestures, devoted to our love.
Fue un hombre muy detallista, entregado a nuestro amor.
He always made me feel like a queen. I never wanted for anything; he gave me more than I ever dreamed of. I will never have the words to express what a marvelous, loving man God gave me.
Siempre me hizo sentir como una reina, nunca me hizo falta nada, me brindó más de lo que yo soñaba. Jamás tendré palabras para expresar el hombre tan maravilloso y amoroso que Dios me dio.
We shared so many moments, so many adventures, but the dream he held closest was becoming a dad.
Compartimos muchos momentos, muchas aventuras, pero la que más soñaba era ser papá.
From the moment he learned he would have a little princess, everything in him changed. He always said that little girl would never lack for anything—and that's how it was. From the moment he held her in his arms and held her tiny hand, he never let go of her.
Desde el momento en que supo que tendría una princesa, todo en él cambió. Siempre decía que a esa niña nada le faltaría nada, y así fue; desde el momento en que la tuvo en sus brazos y sostuvo su pequeña mano, nunca más la soltó.
He always worked so that his "Gordita," as he called her, would never go without.
Siempre trabajó para que su Gordita, como le decía, nunca le faltara nada.
He wanted to be there for every step his Gordita took.
Siempre quería estar en cada paso que daba su Gordita.
She would always say, "Papi, I want nuggets and fries," and he always gave her whatever she wanted—he never let his Gordita go without her little cravings.
Siempre le decía: "Papi, quiero Nuggets con papas," y él siempre la complacía en todo, nunca dejaba que su Gordita se quedara con antojos.
They went to the park together every afternoon, and my little girl would come home happy, telling me everything Papá had given her.
Salían juntos todas las tardes al parque, llegaba mi niña feliz a contarme todo lo que papá le dio.
I remember he would always look at her and say, "She's getting so big and beautiful," and the tears would come to his eyes.
Recuerdo que siempre la miraba y decía: "Está muy grande y hermosa," y se le salían las lágrimas.
He lived for her. Everything he did, he did in the name of his Gorda.
Él vivía por ella. Todo lo que él hacía era en nombre de su Gorda.
He wanted to be a present father—he never wanted his daughter to think Papá wasn't there, or that he was too busy.
Quería ser un padre presente, que su hija nunca pensara que papá no estaba, o que estaba muy ocupado.
Every morning my daughter would wake up and call out to Papá to tell him she was awake and had slept well.
Cada mañana mi hija despertaba y llamaba a papá a decirle que ya había despertado y que durmió rico.
Every day she waited for Papá to have lunch and play with him for a while. And every night, Papá would come brush her teeth and hold her while she fell asleep.
Todos los días esperaba a papá para almorzar y jugar un rato con él. Luego, cada noche papá llegaba a cepillarle los dientes y abrazarla para dormir.
A few months ago, we were talking about what she would be like when she was older, and how hard it would hit him when she went to school for the first time.
Unos meses antes hablábamos de cómo sería de grande y que le daría muy duro cuando esté en el colegio por primera vez.
The three of us dreamed of so many things in our future. Days before, he bought his Gordita so many things—clothes, toys—and he loved watching how happy she was in them.
Soñamos tantas cosas los tres en nuestro futuro. Días antes le compró muchas cosas a su Gordita: ropa, juguetes, y amaba ver cómo se colocaba feliz.
The day before, he took her to the park and the two of them had such a happy time.
Un día antes la llevó al parque y pasaron muy felices los dos.
That Monday afternoon was supposed to be her day with Papá. But he never came home. And now my daughter asks for Papá, and I don't have the strength to tell her that Papá isn't coming, that she can't hug him anymore or tell him, "Papi, I love you." Every night she asks for him. She always slept next to him, and now she can't. All I have left are the photos, and a blanket with the three of us on it that he gave her a few weeks before.
Se suponía que ese lunes en la tarde sería día de estar con papá, pero nunca llegó. Y ahora mi hija pregunta por papá y no tengo las fuerzas para decirle que papá no vendrá, que ya no lo podrá abrazar ni decirle: "Papi, te amo." Cada noche pregunta por él. Siempre dormía junto a él y ahora no lo puede hacer. Solo me quedan las fotos y una cobija de los tres que le había regalado unas semanas antes.
My soul is broken. He was everything to me; he never let me worry about anything.
Tengo el alma rota. Él era todo para mí, nunca dejaba que me preocupara por nada.
I feel so unprotected. I wish I could run into his arms and hear him say: "It's okay, mi Flaca, I'm right here." I love you, my love.
Me siento tan desprotegida. Quisiera salir corriendo a los brazos de él y me dijera: "Tranquila, mi flaca, acá estoy." Te amo, mi amor.
You will always be the love of my life, until my heart stops beating.
Siempre serás el amor de mi vida hasta que mi corazón deje de latir.
Watch over me. Help me carry all of this.
Cuídame, ayúdame a sobrellevar todo.
Help me care for and protect our daughter.
Ayúdame a cuidar y proteger a nuestra hija.