Walter Fernandes

Walter Garcia Fernandes was born on January 16, 1931, in Siparia,Trinidad, to Alfred Fernandes and Thelma Galvaro.  He was one of couple's 6 children and was known to have a hearty and vibrant spirit, which he graced the world with until the very end.

Educated both in Trinidad and the US where he attended college at Borough of Manhattan Community College, Walter was a quick study, able to learn from all things.  He was a man of good character. In addition to his big presence, which was felt by all who encountered him, was his big heart.  Walter took the many things he learned and shared his knowledge with anyone he could.  "Learn to Learn", was one of the many
sayings to which he could be accredited.

He was a dedicated man and hard worker. Walter left Trinidad as a teenager to sail on oil freighters as a way to earn money to send back to the family. After sailing around the world, he landed in New York City and never looked back. Of his many places of employment, his favorite was working for the Board of Education's School Safety Division. He was an enterprising leader and moved up in the ranks quickly and easily. Walter ended taking a position as a Business Agent for the Teamsters Union 237 for several years to vehemently defend and
protect the people he regarded as family.

His life was representative of his heart of service, from his career to his volunteer work at several food pantries after retirement, but most profoundly as a dedicated husband and father. Walter was not known to fail or quit. Once his put his mind to something he wouldn't stop until he achieved his goal. This is best represented by his tenacious pursuit of his wife, Juanita Fernandes.  Having only heard of her virtue and beauty, he wrote her for many months, sight unseen, without receiving a single response until he finally travelled from New York
to St. Thomas, USVI, to meet, woo, and ultimately marry her in August of 1977.  His dedication to her was unmatched – to ensure she was comfortable with her new life in New York, he'd take months off of work to spend time with and acclimate her.  They were inseparable, which ultimately led to both of them working together within the NYPD School Safety division. They had two children – Thelma Louise and Walter II., and it was a norm to see them together, Walter Sr. pushing a stroller and/or holding one of the children with his
wife in tow.

He left this world peacefully on April 19, 2018, in the comfort of his home with his prized treasures -- his family.  He leaves behind his wife, Juanita Fernandes, two children, Thelma-Louise and Walter II, four grandchildren, Chavali, Aaron Jr., Brooke, and Daschell, as well as scores of adopted family, friends and an even greater number of persons whose lives he touched.  He will be cherished as much in his passing as he was in his life.

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