John Fernandez

John married Thaveth Juliette Duval on January 5, 1968; they have shared almost 55 years of marriage.

In his 86 years of life, our father had a very lengthy and distinguished resume, including:

- Former Army Colonel, Commandant of Kampot Military Subdivision

- Former Commanding Officer of the 20th Infantry Intervention Brigade

- 1972 graduate from the US Army Command & General Staff College at Forth Leavenworth, Kansas

- Governor of Kampot Province

On April 17, 1975, he closed a chapter of his life and began a new, unchartered journey after his beloved country surrendered to the communists. He had the courage to escape to the United States where he received his education, while his entire immediate family escaped to France, including his mother and five of his six siblings. One sibling of the total seven core Fernandez children did not survive the fateful fall of Cambodia.

Pa had the courage to protect and start a new life in America where he held positions including:

- Owner/Manager of a Texaco Gas Station in Woodbridge, Virginia

- Owner/Manager of a Rapid Print in Long Beach, California

- Chairman of the Board of the Cambodian Veterans Association

- Cashier with the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Los Angeles, California

- Life Underwriter with New York Life insurance in Long Beach, California

- Realtor with Century 21 Heineman Realty in Phoenix, Arizona

- And finally, for the last as a Certified Court Interpreter comfortably and fluently speaking the following languages: Cambodian, English, French, Lao, Thai and Vietnamese

When Pa finally accepted that America would be his “home”, upon receiving his citizenship, he legally changed his name from his given name of Jean (the French spelling) to John.

John is survived by his wife Thaveth, five children Nikki (Jose) Reynada, Tony (Diane) Fernandez, Bobby (Lena) Fernandez, Doone (Nicole) Fernandez and Dahlia (Tony) Feiter, ten grandchildren: Erika (Kevin) Orozco, Ellesa Reynada, Emily Reynada, Ellyson Reynada, Nia Fernandez, Vincent Fernandez, Miyah Fernandez, Avery Feiter, Samson Feiter, and Hannah Fernandez, and seven great grandchildren Jameson, Jaxson, John Felix, Julius Pou Tony, Mia, Melanie & Myla.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his six siblings.

Family and friends are invited to a graveside service on Friday, December 9, 2022 at 10AM at West Resthaven Funeral Home, 6450 W. Northern Avenue, Glendale.