Gabriel C. Fernandez

FERNANDEZ, Gabriel C., 71, died at his home Saturday, December 10, 2005. He is survived by his beloved wife, Anita; Gabe's children, David and Sharma; and Gabe's extended family, Dr. Jimmy DeMesa and wife, Jill, Ann Marie DeMesa, Valerie Gonzalez and fiance', Ronnie Martinez, and Darlene Boon and husband, Jim; five grandchildren, Jamie and Kasie Gonzalez, Sara and Dana Boon, and Taylor DeMesa; his brother, Danilo Fernandez, and his wife, Millie; cousins, Yoli Spence and Richard Fernandez, and John Fernandez and his wife, Dolores; and many others. Gabe was recognized as one of Florida's most creative, award-winning and leading professional residential architectural designers, licensed interior designers and space planner. Born to Vicente and Serbia Fernandez, Gabe was raised in Ybor City. He graduated from Hillsborough High School and received his academic degrees in history and design from the University of Tampa. He taught history and mechanical and architectural drawing at East Bay High Sc hool. For 20 years he was a leading representative for Schering Pharmaceutical Co. Upon completing numerous post-graduate studies, Gabe taught interior design and space planning at UT and Hillsborough Community College. He was a member of the Florida Society of the American Institute of Building Designers and the Interior Business Designers Society. He served on Tampa's architectural review commission and was a real estate broker. He was a past king and member of the Krewe of Sant' Yago, Centro Asturiano Club, the Tampa Museum of Art, the Opera Association of Tampa, Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, the Tampa Yacht and Country Club and the Saint Andrew Scottish Society. He was a longtime member of the Ybor City Rotary Club. He became involved, through Rotary, with the highly acclaimed Salesian Youth Center, a partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, providing services to Tampa's inner-city youths. On November 18, Gabe and his wife Anita were honored at the youth venter's 10th anniversary ba nquet with an award recognizing his dedication which read, "As the Salesian Youth Center climbed the ladder to success, Gabe Fernandez was helping to hold it steady." Active pallbearers will be Dr. Jimmy DeMesa, Jim Boon, Ronnie Martinez, Mike Stone, Richard Fernandez, John Fernandez, Joe Garcia, Bonnie Sanchez, Bill Terry and Jorge Valiente. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Cisneros, Angel Oliva Jr., Buzz VerPlank, Frank Cacciatore, Al Garcia, Manuel Junco, Ben Osie, Herman Fernandez, Richard Spence, Bo Cimino, Arnie Hernandez, Larry Menendez, Bob Dikman, Steve Hood, Riley Hogan, Frank Perez Jr., Bob Vaughn, Woody Wood, Tim Cusach, the Honorable E.J. Salcines, the Honorable Dick Greco, Fernando Noriega, Del Acosta, Jack Bierly, Dr. Emilio Echevarria and all members of the Ybor City Rotary Club. Visitation will be 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Blount and Curry Funeral Home, 605 S. MacDill Ave. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 2 p.m. Friday, December 16, 2005, at Our Lady of Perpetual H elp Catholic Church, 17th Street at 11th Avenue. Interment will follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Salesian Youth Center, 315 W. Columbus Drive, Tampa, FL 33602.