Francisco Hernandez

Frank L. Hernandez, Jr. who liked to be known as Pancho was a life long resident of Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. He was born to Frank L. Hernandez, Sn. and Enedina Hernandez on October 3, 1949. He was the eldest of the three children enjoying the treasure of being raised in a loving and close-knit family of dedicated parents, a brother and a sister, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins in Santa Paula, California.

Pancho attended school in Santa Paula. He was known as "the brain" as he moved through the Santa Paula School System. He attended AP biology classes at Santa Paula High School and was approached to consider an appointment to Annapolis Academy. During high school, he played football and was a member of the marching and standing bands for which he played the clarinet. He graduated from Santa Paula High School in 1967 as a California State Scholar and recipient of a full scholarship to UC Santa Barbara. He majored in cellular biology. He was at UCSB when the National Guard was monitoring student protests. Pancho left UCSB after three years to find his "own way" in life and "in search of himself".

Pancho spent the next seven or eight years working in several positions, that afforded him the opportunity to learn about people, as he deemed necessary. His employment included psych technician at Camarillo State Hospital, a nursing program for the terminally ill, a welfare client worker, and at the Buenaventura Academy for children with behavioral problems as a member of a mental health team. Pancho, then, decided to join the US Marine Corps in 1977. He spent nine years working in a technical field. He served honorably in the Marines achieving the rank of Sergeant. Upon leaving the Marines, he worked in several short-term jobs while he waited for the United States Postal Service to act upon his application for employment. He was a Mail Carrier for the US Postal Service for over 36 years in Oxnard. He was held in high esteem and affection by his customers.

Pancho met Margaret Madueno while he was working in Ventura County. They had five children, Michael, Eric, Margarita, Tara, and Angel. Pancho was a devoted single parent father to his children. He followed them through all their life's milestones and encouraged their individual pursuits in life ranging from scouting to music to travel to sports. In 2007, Tara had a son named Nicholas Watson. Nicholas was Pancho's only grandson and was a limitless source of pride and love for "PaPa". His love was beyond comparison for his children and his grandson.

A true passion of Pancho was reading and sharing knowledge with whomever was in his "radar". He was a voracious reader, able to assimilate information on many topics and always open to discussions on any subject. Pancho was brave, heroic, intelligent, kind, gentle, compassionate and a true humanitarian. His presence illuminated any room. In Michael's (his eldest son) own words, his father was not only his father, but also his best friend! He wanted to be called Pancho because that was his father's name and it was his father who taught him WHO God is. Our father lived by this motto: "Listen to God." Our father exclaimed," LIFE!", when asked what he loved and valued most!

Pancho is survived by his sons, Michael, Eric, and Angel (Mariel); one daughter, Tara; grandson, Nicholas; sister, Alicia (Tim) (Amber); stepchildren, Mario and Suzanne Jimenez; cousins and many nieces and nephews. He leaves behind many loving family members and close friends. Pancho was preceded in death by his mother and father; his daughter, Margarita and his younger brother, Dr. Manuel Hernandez.

Our family wishes to thank Dr. Gary Schiller of the UCLA Bowyer Clinic for all the care and friendship he extended to our father for eight years. Furthermore, we wish to thank the many doctors and staff at Sansum Clinic who helped our dad in his journey. Finally, our gratitude to the hospice staff at VNA Health for all their assistance and compassion to our father and our family.