Gerardo Fernandez

Gerardo Fernandez Sr. lovingly known as Caco, age 93, passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2020. Gerardo was born in Matanzas, Cuba on December 28, 1926, the 2nd of ten children born to the late Manuel Fernandez and Ana Maria Gonzalez. As a young man, Gerardo was fond of the arts. He was gifted with many talents and was an actor, gymnast and artist. Gerardo married Olga Rodriguez on February 12, 1955 in Havana, Cuba. In 1969, Gerardo immigrated to the United States along with his wife and two children and established roots in Passaic, NJ. Soon after, he opened a laundromat and went on to manage various other laundromats. He was also the manager of a merengue band, Vicente Pacheco y su Orquesta. In 1970, he co-founded the first Liceo Cubano de Passaic social club at 801 Main Ave, as well as the lodge, Los Caballeros de la Luz. Gerardo and his family played a prominent role in all aspects of the Liceo, including baseball and bowling leagues, billiards leagues, domino tournaments, and Cuban heritage activities. He was also an active member in the Passaic community as a whole and was known and loved by many. He was often seen out and about in Passaic, where without fail, he would be recognized and lovingly greeted, to he would always reply, “Hey, my friend!” with a smile and a wink. Gerardo loved life, his family and friends. He was always ready to have a good time, lend a helping hand or impart words of wisdom. As the patriarch of the close-knit Fernandez family, he held a very special place in all of its members’ hearts and created an everlasting bond with each of them. Of all of his accomplishments, the one he held most dear was the legacy he had created in his family. His charismatic nature, positive energy and infectious spirit drew everyone in, and the draw of that captivating essence trickled down from his children, to his grandchildren, and even to his great-grandchildren who loved him dearly and enjoyed spending time with him. At the age of 93, he would regularly be found playing dominos and video games with them. Gerardo is preceded in death by his brothers, Manuel Fernandez and Carlos Fernandez Sr., and by his sisters, Ofelia Fernandez, Zeida Fernandez, Sylvia Gonzalez, Laudelina Fernandez, Dulce “Fara” Fernandez. Gerardo is survived by his wife, Olga, his son Gerardo Fernandez Jr. and his wife Irma, his daughter Ana Fuentes and her husband Manuel, his grandchildren, Odette Coronel and her husband Noel, Ricardo Fernandez and his wife Vedanira, Giselle Buttler and her husband Christian, Yameil Nunez and her husband Gilberto, and Jaclyn Fernandez Hrinko and her husband Alexander. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, David Michael Fernandez, Jacqueline Victoria Fernandez, Noelani Coronel, Michael Manuel Santos, Isabelle Fernandez, Dominique Jordan Fernandez, Olivia Coronel, Anabeth Fernandez, Noel Oliver Coronel, Mia Buttler, Nicholas Jordan Santos, and Lia Buttler. He is lovingly remembered by his sisters, Berta Hernandez and Olga Fernandez and many many nieces, nephews and extended family in the US, Cuba, and Spain. He will also be greatly missed by the huge network of friends in the community and friends that became family. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 25th, 2020 from 4:00pm-8:00pm in Funeraria Alvarez, 66 Passaic Avenue, Passaic NJ. Cremation is private.