Jose Fernandez

Fernandez, Jose came into the world on September 10th, 1932 and peacefully left it on December 9th, 2015, surrounded by members of his loving family. Preceded in death by his parents, Manuel Fernandez Arias and Maria Pilar de Velasquez; of Grado, Spain. Survived by his wife, Lois; children, Maria Fernandez Wieck (Paul), Pepe Fernandez (Frances), and Marco Fernandez-Schklar (Stanley); grandchildren, Crissy Welhoelter (Rob), Paul Wieck (Andrea), Rachel Cupit (Andy), Marc Fernandez (Kaitlin), and Chris Fernandez; great-grandchildren, Gabby Welhoelter, Wyatt Welhoelter, Fina Welhoelter, Trey Wieck, Hunter Wieck, Noah Wieck, Ava Cupit, Conway Cupit, Emmett Cupit, and Landon Fernandez; his sisters Serafina Menendez, Josepha Suarez, Endina Gonzalez all of Grado, Spain; and the countless students and athletes he mentored during more than three decades as a soccer coach. Born and raised in Grado, Spain, Jose arrived to the U.S. via an engineering job in Ohio in 1957, bringing little more than his unwavering faith, his unbridled optimism, and a dream to share his love for the game of soccer. He made his home in Franklin in 1970, where he later established, with other community leaders, the Middle Tennessee Soccer Association which eventually became the Williamson County Soccer Association (WCSA). His dream began with one team and dozen young players. He drove development of the local game via writing articles in the paper, appearing on television, and asking local businesses to sponsor teams. He did not stop with recreational soccer. He initiated the development of travel or select soccer and helped with Olympic Development Teams in the area. He and Lois traveled to Europe with many Under 19 travel teams. Each team would play friendly soccer games with local teams in 4-5 countries over 3 weeks in the summer. Today, more than 6,000 kids play soccer with WCSA, making it the largest recreational sports organization in the Nashville metropolitan area. After his time with the WCSA, he helped bring TOPS soccer, a league for special needs children, to the area. He was selected as a torch bearer in 1996 to carry the Olympic Torch through downtown Franklin. He was supremely proud of his family; his Spanish heritage and its national football team; and his ability, even as he entered his sunset years, to hold his own on the soccer field. Although Jose was an extraordinary athlete and leader, he was most concerned with sharing his gifts and helping others realize their own potential, both on and off the field. In addition to his soccer skills, Jose was a talented cook with a deep appreciation for both Southern and Spanish cuisine. He and his wife loved to entertain in the home he built, himself. It was a respite where friends and family members gathered to enjoy abundant home-cooked meals; to share in lively, laughter-filled discussions; and, often in the wee hours of the night, to watch live-televised international soccer matches. In Jose's honor, there will be a celebration of his life on Saturday December 12th at the Williamson County Soccer Association, 3157 Boyd Mill Avenue, Franklin, TN 37064, under the Pavilion. There will be a short service at 1pm followed by a reception with family and friends. Feel free to come as Jose would have, with your jersey or warm-up, prepared to kick around. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local youth soccer organization. WILLIAMSON MEMORIAL FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, 615-794-2289. www.williamsonmemorial.com

Service Information

Saturday, December 12th, 2015 1:00pm, Williamson County Soccer Association