Gonzalo Fernandez

Gonzalo “Buck” Fernandez, 99, of Fairfax, VA passed peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, June 14, 2023. “Buck” was born on August 18, 1923 in Ybor City, FL, youngest son of Spanish immigrants, Antonio and Marcela Fernandez. After graduating from Hillsboro High School, he attended the Georgia Institute of Technology enrolling in the College of Electrical Engineering. In his third year he was offered and accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. After his graduation from the academy in 1947, he embarked on a distinguished military career, starting in the Army Air Corps and moving to the Air Force upon that branch's creation, where he became an accomplished pilot, earned Master of Science degrees in both Business Administration (George Washington University) and Astronautics (Air Force Institute of Technology), received numerous meritorious accommodations and attained the rank of colonel before retiring in 1975.

After leaving the Air Force, he continued to serve his country by developing the use of computer applications within the space program at NASA. Continuing his love of technology, he then moved to Computer Sciences Corp., where he was instrumental in advancing the automation of the Venezuelan oil industry. Not content with retirement or his creative writing endeavors, he then founded his own business records management company, BNF Technologies, where he served as president until 2014.

He met his wife of 58 years, Naoma, on a blind date while on temporary assignment in San Francisco. Their mutual love of travel took them to many exciting destinations around the world including Australia, Spain, Alaska and many Caribbean islands, as well as to the Outer Banks of North Carolina for many memorable family vacations. His allegiance to his West Point alma mater continued by attending sporting events and reunions and by working as class president well into his 90s. He was an avid fan of his hometown sports teams, both the Washington Redskins, where he held season tickets for many years, and the Washington Nationals.

He was preceded in death by his wife, son, Gary, and granddaughter, Regina. He is survived by his daughters; Denise Thompson-Bauer (Chuck), and Karen Fortner (Ronnie) and grandchildren; Kathlene McCloy (Bruce), M Justin Thompson, Guy Fortner, William Fernandez (Heather), and Zoe Anderson (Michael) and great-grandchildren; Elena and Connor McCloy, Sean Del Grippo, and Hunter, Scarlett and Cody Anderson.

He will be interred alongside his wife at Arlington National Cemetery.