Richard Joseph "Rick" Hernandez

From a young age, Rick was known for his ability to draw and story-tell. His artistic gifts led to many sketches and writings about animals, superheroes, and magical creatures. Rick’s creativity was also expressed through cooking. As a young man, he integrated spices and seasonings from many cultures into his dishes. His love for other cultures fueled traveling, living, and/or working in Europe, Mexico, India, and Israel.

In later years, Rick found healing in essential oils and homeopathy. For him, health and healing came from the earth but his Spiritual anchor was The Lord. He said the Lord’s Prayer in Hebrew every morning, engaged in evening prayer, and kept the Sabbath. Rick enjoyed cooking for others, spending time at the library, walking outdoors, drawing, and watching old movies. He had a love for nature and great compassion for animals. He tended and named the neighborhood feral cats. He ultimately “adopted” Sunny Boy and Twilight.

Rick graduated from St. Pius X High School in 1982. He studied at a number of schools, including University of Missouri in Columbia, Arizona State, and Universidad de Veracruzana in Xalapa, Mexico. He earned his Associate of Arts degree in Business Organization and Management at Donnelly College in 1985. He then attended Benedictine College prior to being accepted to Conception Seminary College as he considered Catholic priesthood.

With a love for his country, Rick enlisted in the US Army where he was a Cavalry Scout based in Fort Collins, Colorado from 1989-1991.

Rick continued his education earning a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rockhurst University in 1993, majoring in Philosophy and Theology, with a minor in Spanish.

After college, Rick was an early childhood/elementary educator in Ann Arbor, St. Louis, and Kansas City. He eventually traveled to Israel to assist in a Kibbutz while studying Hebrew. In 2014, he was ordained as a Christian Minister.

Rick eventually settled in Toledo, Ohio. He married Jean Ellis in 2006 after meeting her at Adat Adonai Messianic Jewish Synagogue.

Rick was a son, brother, uncle/tio, husband and friend. He was a playful, sensitive, compassionate soul and will be missed.

Rick was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Lee (Leocádia) Hernandez.

He is survived by his father, Richard Hernandez; wife Jean Hernandez, (formerly Jean Ellis), and her children and their spouses, Derek Ellis (Crissey), Dewayne Ellis (fiancé Starla); and siblings and their spouses, Jeanette Prenger (Kevin), Mary Lynn O’Connor (Brian), Lilly Winkeljohn, Jesse Hernandez (Rachelle), and Kim-Marie O’Driscoll (Dermot).

Visitation is scheduled for 1pm Wednesday, October 6 with a Memorial Service at 2pm and graveside service immediately following, all at White Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Michael’s Veteran’s Center at smvets.org or Humane Ohio at humaneohio.org/donate-now.

Rick’s family would like to thank Jean, Rick’s wife, and her children for their unconditional love and support over the years.