Fernando Hernandez

Fernando Hernandez, 72 passed away at his home on June 3, 2022. He was preceded in death by his parents, Angelo and Emma Hernandez and survived by his wife of 51 years, Irene G. Hernandez, and his children Mirella (Carlos) Flores, F. Xavier (Melissa) Hernandez, F. Alberto (Crissie) Hernandez, and Maricela (Andrew) Rubin, fourteen grandchildren, 5 siblings and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was born on January 19, 1950 in Monterrey Mexico. His parents pursued the American dream and brought their four older children to San Antonio when Fernando was just a boy. His two younger siblings were born in San Antonio and early on his parents taught him the importance of family and hard work. He graduated from Harlandale High School in 1968 and after the encouragement of great teachers he applied and was accepted to St Mary's University. While in college he married his high school sweetheart and they started a family. A diligent student he graduated in four years, all while working full time and providing for his growing family. He graduated in 1972 with an Accounting Degree and originally started working with the US government right out of college in Fresno, CA for a department helping entrepreneurs start new businesses. When that department was disbanded he opened a restaurant in Austin, TX but before long the pressure of a growing family had him seek the stability of corporate work and he was hired on to Southwestern Bell in San Antonio, TX. Over the next 20+ years he was promoted and climbed the corporate ladder through mergers and acquisitions from Southwestern Bell, AT&T, SBC, and once again AT&T that had him move his family from San Antonio, to Atlanta, to St Louis, and back to San Antonio where he eventually retired in 2003. Even while working for AT&T the entrepreneurial spirit stirred in him once again and he started G2M Group in 2002, an authorized dealer for Cingular and eventually AT&T wireless with his two sons. He grew that business to five stores spread across San Antonio, Corpus Christi, and Brownsville before selling the company in 2010. However his retirement was short lived and he decided to work for Radio Shack at a corporate level until 2015. He figured he had years of experience to share with a new generation and as he put it, "the company car was nice too". Finally his wife got him to slow down and they started to travel. They toured all over the United States, visited China and actually lived in Costa Rica and Mexico before health issues forced him back to San Antonio. Even as his health declined he was a constant presence in his children's and grandchildren's lives. He enjoyed nothing more than cheering on his grandkids at various sporting events, applauding their talents at music recitals and marching band competitions, or giving a standing ovation at their theatrical plays. He led by example, showing them what education and hard work could provide, but always putting his family first. Fernando had always been a "Renaissance Man" just as comfortable in the kitchen as he was under the hood of a car. He enjoyed learning and embraced technology in its infancy and knew the impact it would have in the future. When he was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis he tackled the diagnosis like any other problem to be solved and seeked out the best doctors and treatments. When he was first denied a lung transplant he advocated for himself and pursued several hospitals until he found the amazing doctors at Hermann Memorial in Houston, TX. On November 15, 2021 he survived a grueling 10 hour double lung transplant and set himself on a path to recovery. He was able to move back home to San Antonio ahead of schedule and started to feel so healthy that he considered finishing his Master's Degree or rejoining the workforce once again. Sadly he was taken away before he was able to pursue those dreams but his family is thankful for the extra time the transplant gave them and will forever be in debt to the amazing doctors, nurses and staff that cared for him.

There will be a Rosary held for him at St Padre Pio Catholic Church (3843 Bulverde Pkwy, 78259) at 6:30 PM on Monday, June 20, 2022 and a Mass will be held the following day at 10:00 AM at the same location with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers the family has asked that you make a donation to Donate Life Texas and join their registry so that more lives can be saved through the gift of organ donation. https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=2139&AID=2832 <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A_