Obituary of John V. Fernandez

Dr. John V. Fernandez, age 85, died peacefully on Friday morning, April 8, 2005 at his home in Gloversville. He was born September 18, 1919 in Gloversville, the only son of the late John and Ella Honeywell Fernandez. He attended the local Gloversville schools and graduated from Gloversville High School, class of 1937. He also graduated from Niagra University, cum laude, in 1941 and Albany Medical College in 1944. He served a rotating internship at Albany Medical Center Hospital, followed by two years of service in the US armed forces. He was honorably discharged from the Army Medical Corp. in June of 1947 with the rank of Captain. Following World War II he completed four years of training in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Brady Maternity and the Albany Medical Center Hospital and College. In July of 1951 he returned to start his medical practice and was attending in his specialty at Nathan Littauer Hospital, Gloversville, Johnstown Hospital and St. Mary?s Hospital in Amsterdam during his active years. He became a Fellow in the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology in March of 1955, Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology in August of 1956, Fellow of the International College of Surgeons in August of 1956 and a Fellow in the American College of Surgeons in October of 1958. Dr. Fernandez was Chief of Obstetrics at Nathan Littauer Hospital from 1960 to 1970 and alternate years thereafter. Through his efforts pre-natal classes were established at Littauer Hospital. He was also instrumental in establishing fetal monitoring, ultrasound and laproscopy. He retired from active practice in July of 1979 having delivered over 29 years some twelve thousand plus babies. Following retirement he actively served on the Board of Nathan Littauer Hospital, the Nathan Littauer Foundation, Colonial Health Care Corp; Mountain Valley Hospice and the Fulton County Heart Association. He was a life member of the Fulton County Medical Society, New York State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He was also a member of Sacred Heart Church, the Pine Tree Rifle Club, the Moose Lodge #1185 and the Gooley Club. Survivors include his wife, Doris Faulknor Fernandez, whom he married November 13, 1974; three sons, John E. Fernandez and his wife Donna of Rochester, Michigan, Charles V. Fernandez and his wife Marilyn of Eugene, Oregon, Dr. Richard E. Fernandez and his wife Faith of Freehold, New Jersey; a daughter, Sarita A. Fernandez of Caroga Lake; two stepsons, Daniel Seelow and his wife Lisa of Amsterdam, and Dr. David Seelow and his wife Dorothy of Albany; six grandchildren, Jessica Fernandez, Jonathan Fernandez, Alexis Fernandez, Claire Fernandez, Jon Seelow and Kyle Chamberlain. The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 8 PM Monday at Walrath & Stewart Funeral Home, 51 Fremont St., Gloversville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 AM Tuesday at Sacred Heart Church, Gloversville. Interment will take place at FernDale Cemetery, Johnstown. Memorial contributions, in lieu of flowers, may be made to Mountain Valley Hospice, 73 N. Main St., Gloversville, or to the Nathan Littauer Hospital Building Fund, 99 E. State St; Gloversville, NY; 12078.