He peacefully passed away in his sleep at Kansas City Hospice House while he was accompanied by his wife and daughter. May he rest in peace as he joins his son, Jose A. Fernandez in Heaven.
Jose lived a long and eventful life, was a husband, father and a grandfather. He was also a well-known and beloved chef in the Kansas City area (1967 – 2018), owning and partnering in numerous restaurant ventures (i.e. Don Pepe - Plaza, City Lights, Casa Madrid, El Patio, Don Pepe’s Café 39th St., Café Barcelona, El Patio and Café Sevilla all in Kansas City, Missouri). Eventually moving into a prominent chef position at Johnny Cascone’s Italian Restaurant and joining the Costco Wholesale Team in Overland Park.
He is survived by his wife, Sara Fernandez (married 46 years); daughter, Sara Fernandez-Shaw; son-in-law, Rory Shaw; and his two grandchildren, Antonio & Abraham Shaw. He is also survived by his siblings living in Europe, Encarna, Gervasio, Teresa and Alberto. He leaves a great deal of extended in-law family in the Kansas City area.
Early Life:
Jose came from a humble Galician family, he was the third of seven children (Encarna, Eduardo, Jose, Gervasio, Teresa, Fernando and Alberto). His parents worked the land while he was a sheep and cow herder to neighbors in the cold, lush mountainous of northern Spain. At an early age, he exhibited an interest in fine food and yearned to become a great chef, he pursued his dreams and made his way to Madrid working in various fine restaurants including the Valentine.
From there he sought formal culinary training and studied in Switzerland eventually moving to Monaco, Monte Carlo where he worked for the rich and became the Executive Chef on the Christina, Aristotle Onassis yacht for three years. In his years with the Onassis family, he traveled the Mediterranean Sea and gained extensive experience while learning the culinary secrets of spices and flavors that eventually were incorporated into his future signature dishes.
Kansas City Here I Come:
In 1967, his life would take a new turn, this time across the Atlantic Ocean where he accepted a new opportunity as an executive chef working for the Mary Hudson of the Hudson Oil Company in Kansas City, MO.
In 1975, on an early Sunday morning at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Kansas City, he met his future wife, companion and best friend Sara Noyola. They were married shortly after and they had two beautiful and amazing children, their eldest late son, Jose A. Fernandez and their daughter, Sara A. Fernandez.
COMPARTA UN OBITUARIO
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