JOSEPH F. FERNANDEZ

FERNANDEZ JOSEPH F. FERNANDEZ 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. The family is postponing the Mass of Christian Burial and looks forward to hosting a reception to celebrate Joseph's life at a date in the future to be determined, following the easing of restrictions associated with the current global pandemic. Memories may be shared on www.moneyandking.com 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