UPDATED: Remembering Joe Fernandez
Stephen Beale, GoLocalProv News Editor
UPDATED: Remembering Joe Fernandez
“I’m in shock and I feel like I lost a very good friend today,” said Dan Herkert, who managed Fernandez’s campaign for Attorney General.
(UPDATE: Providence Mayor David Cicilline, Attorney General-elect Peter Kilmartin, Providence Mayor-elect Angel Taveras and Brown University President Ruth Simmons have issued statements on his passing. Scroll to the bottom of the story to read them.)
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“I worked for a lot of people in politics and Joe stood head and shoulders about just everybody,” Herkert told GoLocalProv. “I honestly can say I never met someone with the level of integrity and dedication he had.”
Fernandez served as the Providence City Solicitor from 2003 to 2009. He ran unsuccessfully as a candidate in the Democratic primary for Attorney General on his record of cleaning up corruption in City Hall in the wake of the Operation Plunder Dome Scandal.
Dedicated Brown Alum
The son of Filipino immigrants, Fernandez graduated from Brown University in 1985 with a degree in American Civilization. He got his law degree from Harvard University in 1991, where he was a classmate of Barack Obama’s. He later served as the Rhode Island co-chair for Obama’s presidential campaign in 2007 and 2008.
“Joe was a very dedicated city servant—very likable guy,” said Providence City Councilman Michael Solomon. “My heart goes out to his family.”
In addition to his public service, Fernandez also was an active Brown alum. He was the President of the Brown Alumni Association, served as a trustee, and was a member of several alumni committees. Beyond Brown, he was active in several other community organizations, serving as a trustee for the Trinity Repertory Company, a trustee for FirstWorks, a director of the Community College of Rhode Island Foundation, and a director of Crossroads Rhode Island.
“He is going to be sorely missed by many people in the community and most importantly his wife Emily and his two daughters,” Herkert said.
Promised to keep fighting after campaign
Fernandez faced a tough three-way race for Attorney General against Peter Kilmartin and Steve Archambault. He ended up finishing third—but in a parting message on his Web site, he told his campaign supporters he had no regrets, promising he would stay involved in Rhode Island politics.
“It was together that we built a network in this campaign, maybe not successful—this time—but that will be a force for change for years to come,” Fernandez wrote. “And it’s together that we’ll keep fighting to make Rhode Island a better place.”
Providence Mayor David Cicilline: I can’t begin to express the sadness I feel at the passing of Joe Fernandez, a good friend and a valuable member of our family in Providence City government. Joe was an outstanding lawyer with a sharp legal mind who played a major role constructing the legal foundation for reform during my administration. Guided by a strong moral compass and deep commitment to public service, Joe led by example and earned the great respect of his colleagues and peers as a strong leader and expert legal strategist. He also spent countless hours volunteering his time for various nonprofit organizations helping to make our community a better place.
Joe also adored his family, his pride and joy. And my prayers and the prayers of the entire city are with his wife, Emily Maranjian, and their two young daughters during this incredibly difficult time. Joe’s passing leaves a deep void in our community and in our hearts. We will miss him.
Brett Broesder, spokesman for Attorney General-elect Peter Kilmartin: Joe Fernandez was a dedicated and professional public servant, but more importantly a loving husband and father. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Emily and the rest of his family at this time.
Providence Mayor-elect Angel Taveras: Joe Fernandez was a great talent and incredibly generous human being who has been taken from us too soon. In our ten years of friendship I saw first hand his thoughtful leadership and compassionate intelligence in action. This is a very sad day for all of Rhode Island. Our thoughts and prayers are with Joe's family during this difficult time.
Brown University President Ruth Simmons: Early Saturday evening, we learned of the tragic and untimely passing of Joseph M. Fernandez ’85, following a brief illness. An esteemed public servant and beloved member of our community, Joe served the Brown, Providence, and Rhode Island communities with distinction during his all too brief life.
At the time of his death, Joe was an alumnus trustee of the Brown Corporation and president of the Brown Alumni Association (BAA). As president of the BAA, he represented some 88,000 Brown alumni around the world. Having served as a Brown Alumni Schools Committees interviewer, a member of the Brown Corporation Committee on Minority Affairs, and a director of the Brown Club of Rhode Island, he was a consummate Brunonian. He also chaired the Multicultural Alumni Committee of the BAA Board of Governors after he became a member of that board. His many efforts on behalf of the University were acknowledged when, in 2006, he received the BAA’s Alumni Service Award which honors distinguished, continuing volunteer service to Brown.
An active civic leader committed to making a difference in Providence and Rhode Island, Joe recently ran as a Democratic candidate for the office of Rhode Island Attorney General. He had previously served as the city solicitor of the City of Providence and had been a trustee of Trinity Repertory Company and a director of the Community College of Rhode Island Foundation.
We are grateful for Joe’s many contributions to Brown, Providence and Rhode Island. His selfless service and uplifting spirit inspired us all. We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to his wife and children as well as the rest of the immediate and extended family. We will miss him greatly.