Jesse A. Hernandez

A father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, JESSE A. HERNANDEZ, passed away peacefully on July 5, 2024, in his birthplace of San Antonio, Texas. He was the youngest child of seven, born to Juan Hernandez and Eleuteria M. Hernandez, his loving parents.

Our Dad’s life was filled with great challenges that he met head on which spurred him to accomplish many things with the talents that came naturally to him. He always felt that his greatest legacy however, were his descendants, beginning with his daughter, Irma D. Hernandez and her husband, Robert L. Kniejski; his son and namesake, Dr. Jesse Hernandez, Jr.; and his daughter, Laura A. Hernandez. All of his grandchildren were deeply cherished and they are: Kate Kniejski (Josh Blair), Stefan C. Kniejski, Eric D. Hernandez, Paul B. Hernandez (Shelbee Gilmore), Carmen E. Hernandez, and Sarah C. Hernandez. He had only one great-grandchild, who was the apple of his eye, Theodore (“Theo”) A. Blair. Our Dad also leaves behind his loving sister, Olga H. Montemayor, and numerous nieces and nephews who loved him very much.

Preceding him in death are his beloved wife, Mary Ann B. Hernandez, his beloved grandson, Mark Joseph Hernandez, his parents, his brothers, Raul and Juan Hernandez, and his sisters, Trinidad Diaz, Rebecca H. Moran, and Alice H. Rodriguez.

Our Dad served as a cartographer with the Defense Mapping Agency at Fort Sam Houston for 35 years before retiring in 1991. He earned a multitude of meritorious awards for timely submitted projects, and topographically accurate maps which were integral for all the U.S. military agencies who are in charge of our national defense. Dad’s colleagues and superiors were always in awe of his tireless work ethic, his dedication to excellence and his ahead of time submission of all projects assigned to him. Dad’s exemplary work earned him promotion after promotion and he was ever so proud to be able to serve his country in his daily endeavors as a civil servant.

Outside of work, our Dad loved to travel to Las Vegas with our Mom. In Vegas, you could find him at the black jack table or playing poker trying to perfect the art of “the bluff.” He taught all his children and some of his grandchildren all the card games he knew. Saturday evenings were often spent around the dinner table, wagering with mountains of pennies until the last man was left standing.

Dad also loved his cars. His favorites were a black 1957 Impala, a 1970 blue-green GTO and a 1980 gold TransAm… the flashier and faster the car, the better, right, Dad?

Dad’s small but essential pleasures, which he enjoyed right up to the end, were his Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, “real” Coca Cola (real Cokes!), and a variety of Mexican food that was served up by a local restaurant near his home.

Without a doubt, Dad was a tremendous force in the life of our family, his work, and in the community. His very high standards and his expectation of excellence in all his work, and his love of God and St. Jude will live forever in some fashion, in all of us who survive him.

Dad, you will be dearly missed but your legacy will live on. We trust and are consoled knowing that you are with the love of your life – our Mom, with Abuelita, with Mark Joseph, and your brothers and sisters, in heaven. We also know that you are mapping heaven’s terrain (so that we will know how to get there!) and after doing this, shuffling your deck of cards inviting everyone to “ante up!” We love you, Dad.

VISITATIONTUESDAY, JULY 30, 20249:00 A.M – 1:00 P.M.PORTER LORING MORTUARY1101 MCCULLOUGH AVE.

ROSARYTUESDAY, JULY 30, 20247:00 P.M.DISCALCED CARMELITE MONASTERY6301 CULEBRA RD.

MASSWEDNESDAY, JULY 31, 202410:00 A.M.ST. LUKE’S CATHOLIC CHURCH4603 MANITOU RD.

Interment will follow in San Fernando No. 2. Pallbearers will be Jesse Hernandez, Jr., Stefan C. Kniejski, Eric D. Hernandez, Paul B. Hernandez, Michael H. Rodriguez, and Joshua R. Blair.