Joseph F Fernandez
February 1, 1937 ~ December 3, 2020
On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Joseph F. Fernandez passed away peacefully surrounded by family.
Joseph was a devout Catholic, devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, father-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend, with a legacy of service to his country and others.
Born in New York City, New York to immigrant parents, he was instilled with a sense of dedication to family, faith, and country from a young age. As a boy, he was privileged to serve Bishop Fulton J. Sheen at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Though Joseph succumbed ultimately to cancer, it was by no means the first adversity that he faced. After his family moved to Miami, Florida, Joseph’s father died when Joseph was a young teenager, forcing him to assume the mantle of service, a responsibility he carried throughout his life. After graduating from Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Miami, Florida, Joseph entered The Athenaeum of Ohio - Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he furthered his Catholic education. He began his professional life as a Police Officer with the Miami-Dade County Police Department where he served for eight years, earning the rank of Detective Sergeant. During that time, he met the love of his life, Dale, who was an Immigration Officer at Miami International Airport. They married in 1963. He left the police department in 1967 and joined the Federal Government, where he served his country for 20 years both domestically and in Latin America and Europe, retiring as a Senior Operations Officer for the Central Intelligence Agency. After federal service, he started multiple businesses, including a company for which he developed several patents for body armor for use by law enforcement in the USA and allied countries.
His careers fighting organized crime or conducting sensitive operations to protect US national security interests or as an inventor and businessman were important to him and where he undoubtedly left his mark. Although it was his Catholic faith instilled by his parents, devotion to his family and lessons to them on the importance of service, and friendships that will be Joseph’s lasting legacy.
Joseph is preceded in death by his wife Dale. He is survived by his sister Dolores; children Elizabeth (Matt), Joseph (Nora), John (Margaret-Anne), Catherine (Rick), Charles (Valeri), Michael, and Andrew; and 17 grandchildren whom he was very proud of and adored.
A visitation will be held Monday, May 26, 2021, from 10:00 am until time of Mass of Christian Burial, 11:00 am, at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 8601 Wolftrap Rd SE, Vienna, VA 22182. Interment will follow.
Donations may be made in the name of Joseph F. Fernandez to:
CIA Officers Memorial Foundation
P.O. Box 405
Herndon, VA 20172
or
Our Lady of Good Counsel
8601 Wolftrap Rd.
Vienna, VA 22182
Joseph was a devout Catholic, devoted and loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, father-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend, with a legacy of service to his country and others.
Born in New York City, New York to immigrant parents, he was instilled with a sense of dedication to family, faith, and country from a young age. As a boy, he was privileged to serve Bishop Fulton J. Sheen at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York.
Though Joseph succumbed ultimately to cancer, it was by no means the first adversity that he faced. After his family moved to Miami, Florida, Joseph’s father died when Joseph was a young teenager, forcing him to assume the mantle of service, a responsibility he carried throughout his life. After graduating from Sts. Peter and Paul High School in Miami, Florida, Joseph entered The Athenaeum of Ohio - Mount St. Mary’s Seminary of the West in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he furthered his Catholic education. He began his professional life as a Police Officer with the Miami-Dade County Police Department where he served for eight years, earning the rank of Detective Sergeant. During that time, he met the love of his life, Dale, who was an Immigration Officer at Miami International Airport. They married in 1963. He left the police department in 1967 and joined the Federal Government, where he served his country for 20 years both domestically and in Latin America and Europe, retiring as a Senior Operations Officer for the Central Intelligence Agency. After federal service, he started multiple businesses, including a company for which he developed several patents for body armor for use by law enforcement in the USA and allied countries.
His careers fighting organized crime or conducting sensitive operations to protect US national security interests or as an inventor and businessman were important to him and where he undoubtedly left his mark. Although it was his Catholic faith instilled by his parents, devotion to his family and lessons to them on the importance of service, and friendships that will be Joseph’s lasting legacy.
Joseph is preceded in death by his wife Dale. He is survived by his sister Dolores; children Elizabeth (Matt), Joseph (Nora), John (Margaret-Anne), Catherine (Rick), Charles (Valeri), Michael, and Andrew; and 17 grandchildren whom he was very proud of and adored.
A visitation will be held Monday, May 26, 2021, from 10:00 am until time of Mass of Christian Burial, 11:00 am, at Our Lady of Good Counsel, 8601 Wolftrap Rd SE, Vienna, VA 22182. Interment will follow.
Donations may be made in the name of Joseph F. Fernandez to:
CIA Officers Memorial Foundation
P.O. Box 405
Herndon, VA 20172
or
Our Lady of Good Counsel
8601 Wolftrap Rd.
Vienna, VA 22182
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Dad, thanks for everything. You were always there for us and our families.
A memorial tree was planted in memory of the decedent.
With heartfelt condolences,
God rest you, Joe, and bless your wonderful family.
Clay and Michelle, on behalf of the Fernandez Family, thank you for your kind comments. Sincerely, Charles
Dear Fernandez family, As Joes dental hygienist for the past 29 years, I am so deeply saddened by his passing. He was a special patient of mine, and always had a story to share. For that reason, he was always my last appointment , as there there was usually more talking than cleaning. I’m honored to have known him and will miss his smile. My deepest condolences, Ann Nuckols
Ann, thanks for your kind note and for your care for our dad all these years. His stories were great, and we will miss them too. -Charles