Dr. Fernando A. Guerra of San Antonio, Texas passed away peacefully on January 21, 2022 at the age of 82. Fernando was born August 11, 1939 to parents Fernando P. Guerra and Eva Vela Guerra. He was a graduate of Central Catholic High School, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas in Austin, earned his degree in medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and received his Masters in Public Health from Harvard University.
He served two years in the US Army Medical Corp and was awarded the Bronze Star during his tour in Vietnam.
He was a practicing pediatrician seeing to the welfare of the children of San Antonio for almost 40 years, served as a clinical professor of Pediatrics for the University of Texas Health Science Center for 30 years, and served as the Director of Health for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District for 23 years.
He served on numerous boards and organizations including the Urban Institute, March of Dimes, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences (IOM) The Commonwealth Fund, The Philosophical Society of Texas, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, and the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. One of the projects he was most proud of was the establishment of the Barrio Comprehensive Child and Family Health Care Center that saw to the health needs of the under-served children of the West Side of San Antonio for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents Fernando and Eva Guerra. He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years Beverly Purcell Guerra. They enjoyed their membership in the San Antonio Country Club and several Dinner Dance Clubs. Together they created a special blended family of their six children who lived with them. The children are from their previous marriages. He is survived by their children, Alicia Guerra Litzau (Mark), Catalina Guerra Cooper (Chuck), William Purcell (Patricia), Roberto Guerra (Ruxandra Guidi), Ashley Purcell Bolin (Chris), and Luis Guerra (Sasha Piper). Survived by eight grandchildren, Sam Cooper, Ben Cooper, Ethan Bolin, Payton Bolin, Natalia Guerra, Dominic Purcell, Ava Purcell, and Camila Guerra Guidi. He is also survived by his sisters Dardanella Cardenas and Irma Perez and his brother Raul Guerra along with many first cousins and a large extended family.
MEMORIAL SERVICE
Saturday, August 13, 2022
A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at the
Chapel of the Incarnate Word at 2:00 PM.
MEMORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to
A Fund for Public Health through the San Antonio Area Foundation,
The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio
or the charity of your choice.
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