John Fernandes

1924 - 2016

John H. Fernandes, MS, Ph.D, 91, of Tiverton died Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at RI Veterans Home of Bristol, RI. He was the husband of the late Ann F. (Lopes) Fernandes. Born on August 21, 1924 in Tiverton, RI, he was the son of the late Joseph F. and Margaret A. (Moran) Fernandes. Mr. Fernandes was a mechanical engineer for 55 years, retiring in 1999. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from U.R.I. in 1949, after serving in the Army Air Corps from 1942-1946. He became a professor of engineering at LaFayette College in Easton, PA, teaching from 1950-1960. In 1960, he became the head of the engineering department at Manhattan College in NY. He left teaching and worked for Combustion Engineering in Windsor, CT for the next 21 years. He then worked for McGuire Engineering and Consulting in Providence, RI until 1990 where he went into business for himself. Mr. Fernandes was a member of St. Christopher's Church in Tiverton, a member of the Tiverton Town Council from 1999-2004, served as President of the ASME from 1992-1993, served for many years on many town commissions in Windsor Town Government and was a member of the American Legion in Little Compton, R.I. He is survived by his children, John E. Fernandes of Waterloo, SC, Mark J. Fernandes of Cheshre, CT, Ann Marie Gaudreau of Fairfax, VA, Mary Lou Recene of West Hartford, CT, Judy Rowland of Haddonfield, NJ and Carolyn Souza of Tiverton, RI, ten grandchildren, ten great grandchildren his siblings, James E. Fernandes of LaFayette, CA, Sr. Joan Fernandes of Branford, CT and Maureen Fernandes of Windsor, CT, as well as many nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Joseph "Jay" Fernandes, Donald E. Fernandes and the grandfather of the late Diane Fernandes. Calling hours will be held on Monday, from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, in Connors Funeral Home, 55 West Main Road, Portsmouth. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2016 at 9:00 AM, from the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00AM in St. Christopher's Church, 1584 Main Road, Tiverton, RI. Burial will follow in Pocasset Hill Cemetery, Tiverton. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: Parkinson's Disease Foundation, www.pdf.org or to Rhode Island Veterans Home, 480 Metacom Avenue, Bristol, RI 02809. Additional information at www.memorialfuneralhome.com