Raymond H. Dr. Hernandez, Jr.

Dr. Raymond H. Hernandez, Jr., 78, passed away peacefully from cancer-related illness on December 27, 2016, surrounded by his loving family. He was born to Raymond Hernandez and Minerva Cavazos Hernandez on January 6, 1938, in San Antonio, Texas.

Dr. Hernandez is remembered by his beloved wife, children and grandchildren as fun-loving, generous, hard-working, and for his driving curiosity about how things work. He loved solving technical challenges. He set high academic standards for himself along his path from Thomas Jefferson High School (class of 1956), St. Mary's University and Tulane Medical School. In his 49 years of private practice, he constantly strove to further his skills and knowledge in medicine. He was board certified in Family Practice throughout his career, passing his board exam seven times. He proudly served as captain in the US Army during the Vietnam era.

His involvement in scientific research began when he was in college at St. Mary's University. He developed a fascination for chemistry under the rigorous tutelage of his mentors, Brother Charles Cummiskey and Dr. Leonard Axelrod. To help pay for school, he worked at the Southwest Research Institute. Some of his research was in the study of hibernation, an area of great interest in the early space-age era.

Apart from medicine, his great passion was his ranch. It was here he spent some of the happiest times of his life. He shared his love of hunting deer, fossils, and artifacts with his wife, family and friends. In the early days, he let his children name the newborn Simmental cattle. He loved driving his tractors, plowing the fields and baling hay. In the 1970's, he was part of a group that conducted research in techniques for embryo transplantation in cattle. For many years he also had a place at Medina Lake, where his sense of adventure led him to waterskiing and parasailing.

A dedicated family physician for over 50 years, Dr. Hernandez was known by his colleagues and patients as a compassionate and caring physician. He practiced medicine with a zeal and commitment that will be sorely missed by his patients who were used to him going the extra mile for their medical care.

He is preceded in death by his parents Raymond and Minerva Hernandez, his brothers Roland and Richard Hernandez and his sister Minerva.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 52 years Dolores Sarro Hernandez, son Dr. Raymond Hernandez III (Valerie Veve), daughters Denise (Lauge Fastrup) and Lisa (Will Hajek), grandchildren Larissa and Liana Hernandez, Monica, Jens and Thomas Fastrup, Ryon, Ryleigh and Reese Hajek, brother Dr. Roger Hernandez (Marie), nieces Jan Hernandez, Julie Addison (Rodger), Jody Wright (Glenn), Liz Sarro Douglas (James), nephew John Mark Sarro and many beloved cousins, friends, and colleagues.

Visitation will be at Porter Loring Mortuary (McCullough) on Monday, January 2, 2017 from 6 - 8 pm with a rosary at 7 pm. Mass will be at St. Matthew's Catholic Church on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 at 1:30 pm. Interment at Fort Sam Houston will begin at 10:00 am on Wednesday, January 4th. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society at www.cancer.org .