From The Yankton P&D: Fernandez Remembered As An Optimistic Warrior

“During my junior year at the state tournament, the weather was miserable — raining, snowing, freezing cold — and I remember thinking there was no way he was actually going to come watch me play in that weather,” she said. 

Fernandez remained in contact with Cash throughout her senior year.

“He made me feel valued as more than just an athlete, and honestly the way he treated me made my college decision easy,” she said. “I never seriously looked at another school because I knew Mount Marty was where I wanted to be.”

In all areas of life, Fernandez showed those traits — determination, hard work, loyalty and a deep sense of caring for others. He continued his focus on others even as he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in 2012.

His 14-year battle ended last Saturday night, when he died in his home state of Arizona. Even after he left Yankton, he continued his strong local connection by texting friends and athletes, following their progress.

Fernandez, a 1997 MMU graduate, played basketball and baseball for the Lancers. He finished as a student assistant coach for women’s volleyball when he graduated in 1997. 

He later returned to the school, where he was hired as the head softball coach in 2005. He continued in that role for 11 years, along with a one-year stint as head volleyball coach due to a late resignation.

After he stepped down from coaching for health reasons, he worked in the school’s admissions department.

Friends described his life in two words: “faith” and “family,” with a strong devotion to both. He often expressed his strong Catholic faith and love for his family. He leaves behind two children: a son, A.J., and a daughter, Mya.

MMU Athletic Director Andy Bernatow, who also played and coached baseball for the Lancers, spoke of Fernandez’s impact on each person he met.

“I think it was just the nature of Albert’s personality. He just did a really good job of caring about others,” Bernatow said. “He truly enjoyed, believed in and loved Mount Marty. It was natural that we would follow the college’s mission and its pillars of hospitality and community. He had that sense as a person, and he was such a connection point for so many people.”

During Fernandez’s coaching career, his peers honored him by naming him the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) Coach of the Year in both 2011 and 2013, and he was the GPAC Coach of Character Award winner in 2013. 

Even after his cancer diagnosis, Fernandez continued the coaching grind, Bernatow said. “Besides his own struggles, Albert was helping students with their own needs,” he said.

Besides his Mount Marty duties, Fernandez also worked with the Yankton Girls Softball Association (YGSA) and other youth organizations.

Fernandez far outlived the initial life expectancy when he learned about his cancer, Bernatow said. 

“When Albert was diagnosed 14 years ago, they didn’t give him much time — I think less than a year,” the AD said. “But he had a warrior spirit. And as he battled cancer, he didn’t walk away from his faith — he let it carry him.”

Former MMU Vice President Barb Rezac, now director of Catholic schools for the Diocese of Sioux Falls, described witnessing Fernandez in the quiet moments before work at Mount Marty.

“Sometimes, Albert and I would arrive at the same time and walk toward campus on different sidewalks. I would watch him step out of his car, look toward the (Bishop Marty) chapel, point to the sky and begin his day. He did it every day,” she said.

“When I asked him about it, he told me that he dedicated every day, every action and every word to God. His faith was not reserved for Sundays or difficult moments. It was woven into everything he did. His strength came not from himself but from his trust in God.”

COACH OF CHARACTER

Retired MMU athletic director Chuck Iverson hired Fernandez, adding “what an easy and great hire it was.”

Fernandez was highly respected around the GPAC and was selected as the first recipient of its “Coach Of Character Award.”

“It was designed to be one of, if not the, most prestigious awards that the conference would give a coach, honoring one a year,” Iverson said. “I remember talking to GPAC Commissioner Corey Westra and was all in support of Albert for the award. Albert’s work ethic, dedication to his athletes and the sport, and his professionalism, all were at the top of the charts.”

Iverson said he could always count on Fernandez, including when he took on coaching both softball and volleyball for a year. 

“We had a late resignation for our volleyball coach, and we were struggling to find someone on such short notice. Albert stepped in for us,” he said. “When Albert felt he needed to retire from coaching due to the high demands of the job and fighting a terrible disease at the same time, we were all fortunate at Mount Marty that he was able to stay in the admissions department and become an important part of coordinating communication between athletics and admissions.”

A few months ago, the MMU athletic department learned that Fernandez’s wasn’t doing well, so the coaches sent him a care package with updated gear and a letter. Recently, Bernatow texted him that the school held its Lancer Legacy Advisory Coaches Council, with current staff members hearing from a panel of past Lancer players and coaches: Iverson, Jim Thoreson, Bob Wilber, Doug Pesicka, Rudy Gerstner and Bob Tereshinski. 

“Albert’s mom responded and thanked us for the text and informed us that Albert had been placed in hospice,” Bernatow said.

FAMILY TIES

One Yankton family — Brad and Stephanie Moser and their 20-year-old daughter, Payton — saw Fernandez from different perspectives. Stephanie worked with him at MMU, while Brad and Payton knew him through the Yankton Girls Softball Association.

Stephanie returned to Mount Marty as the dean of enrollment, overseeing both admissions and financial aid. At that point, Fernandez had retired as coach and was working in the admission office.

Fernandez not only showed up each day but worked hard in what at times could be a grueling position.

“When I took that job, I started thinking how incredible (it was that) Albert continued working with cancer. But Albert approached everything in life that way,” Stephanie said. “He never used anything as an excuse — he always gave 100%. We knew there were days he wasn’t feeling well and was struggling with his health, but he still came to work.”

In a role reversal, Fernandez kept Stephanie upbeat and laughing on difficult days. 

“We would talk about (my daughter’s) softball games the night before and break it down,” she said. “But it wasn’t just softball. Albert had a different way of looking at things, with a little bit more grace. He never lost sight of the big picture. He didn’t trip up on the small details.”

Fernandez wanted to be remembered as a man of faith and family, Stephanie said. For him, family meant more than his children — it also included the Benedictine Sisters at Sacred Heart Monastery and the greater Mount Marty community, she added.

In another connection, Brad coached Payton’s softball team, and Fernandez offered softball instruction to Payton and other girls. In addition, Brad learned more about Fernandez through his MMU admissions work.

And then, Fernandez made an offer that Brad couldn’t refuse — offering to serve as an assistant coach

“Albert came up to me and wanted back in the game. How could I turn that down, someone with so much knowledge?” Brad asked. “Coaching gave him an escape from his challenges, something to think about other than his cancer. He loved the sport of softball and helping people, and he wasn’t going to use cancer as an excuse or let it define him.”

Fernandez took the coaching opportunity seriously, not treating it like a gesture of sympathy.

“Albert came in and was amazing. He was the peanut butter and I was the jelly,” Brad said. “He changed the way I coached. I’m a very competitive person, and he made me realize that there is more to it than wins and losses. I learned a lot of lessons that I use today.”

As a young player at the time, Payton experienced how Fernandez celebrated an accomplishment but also held the team accountable. After a game, he would discuss the good and the bad with players, building on success and finding ways to improve in other areas – which she also considered good life lessons.

Despite his cancer and treatments, Fernandez continued the YGSA coaching in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic — wearing masks at games.

During the 2020 season, Payton launched a home run over the Riverside Park centerfield fence. “Albert cheered like crazy, and he signed the ball for me. I still have the ball, and now it means a lot more (with his death),” she said.

In a full circle moment, Payton was coaching a YGSA team in a softball tournament last weekend. Her team upset the top seed, and she was ecstatic. In the next moment, she received her parents’ text on the field with the crushing news of Fernandez’s death.

Payton fought back tears as she spoke of Fernandez’s passing. “When people find out you’re with the Yankton team and they ask about him, I tell them that Albert is in a better place,” she said.

Even in grave health, Fernandez provided a strong example, Stephanie said.

“Albert told me, many times, God does everything for a purpose, and this was His purpose,” Stephanie said. “Maybe He was showing people that you can still lead your best life and be there for people and still contribute and show people that you care.”

MMU CONNECTIONS

Former Lancer baseball player Scott Swanson lives in Arizona and remained in contact with Fernandez, also providing MMU coaches with updates on Fernandez’s health.

“Every time I visited Albert, he always asked how my daughter was doing (as a MMU softball player),” Swanson said. “That would naturally lead to him talking with great pride about the many student-athletes at MMU who have gone on to do so well in life. He genuinely cared about people and never failed to think about others before himself. That kindness and interest in the lives of those around him is something I’ll always remember.”

Former MMU basketball coach Dan Tharp recalled Fernandez as always a welcome sight on campus and at games, taking his spot in the front row. They shared a good-natured ongoing rivalry, with Fernandez as a University of Arizona Wildcats fan and Tharp favoring the Arizona State University Sun Devils.

“Albert and I shared many days ribbing each other over our college football fandoms,” he said. “Even after we had both departed MMU, we would always share text messages when the Territorial Cup week rolled around, with the winner grabbing bragging rights over the other for the next year.

 “After almost a decade of sharing these texts and office stops, this fall will feel a little more hollow than before. I appreciate your friendship through the years, Albert, more than you could know.”

Former Lancer men’s basketball coach Cody Schilling described Fernandez as “an A+ human being with an extremely kind soul” who cared deeply for Mount Marty. He was willing to lend a helping hand and give advice, if asked.

“He was one of those guys on campus who I believe impacted everyone he came in contact with,” he said. “My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends. Well done, good and faithful servant. RIP Albert!”

Other Mount Marty alumni and former athletes shared their memories of Fernandez.

Tony Lazarowicz recalled Fernandez’s pride in his children, Mya and AJ, who were frequently found on campus

“Equally important was evidence of his faith. The way his approached his life was to ATTACK,” he said. “He used that motto as he fought. He inspired so many not just in Yankton, but around the country, especially for those of us who came to MMU, went our own ways but stayed in touch with him.”

Bianca Minor-DuPont expressed gratitude for Fernandez recruiting her.

“He took a chance on a small-town California girl to come play at Mount Marty. I am forever grateful for my experience there,” she said. “His faith-based mindset and caring personality will always be special. He has not only made an impact on myself but on the lives of so many others he has come across.”

For Jill Montoya, Fernandez didn’t coach her but recruited her to play MMU softball. 

“Even though my older sister had played for him, he recruited me as my own person,” she said. “He made sure that no one would keep me in my sister’s shadow while I attended Mount Marty and played softball. It was because of him that I decided to commit to Mount Marty. … He remained supportive throughout my time at the university.”

A WARRIOR

Rezac agreed with the characterization of Fernandez as a warrior and drew strength from his courage. She described working in her office many evenings shortly after his diagnosis and hearing him talk with his players after practice. 

“They were upset because they cared about him and knew he was sick with a battle like no other on his plate. He was so positive,” she said. “He talked about resilience, perseverance, faith and character. He taught those young women that setbacks are inevitable in life, but defeat is a choice. He challenged them to get up, keep moving forward, and become stronger because of this or any adversity.”

Rezac told the late coach many times on how much his example inspired her.

“Albert’s life reminds me that courage is not the absence of struggle,” she said. “Courage is choosing hope in the midst of struggle. It is choosing faith over fear, gratitude over bitterness, and determination over despair. I think of his decision to attack every day with hope. I can say without hesitation that I’m a better person because of Albert!”

Fernandez saw each day as an opportunity, Bernatow said.

“He didn’t question (his journey). He viewed it as extended time,” the AD said. “When you’re told you don’t have much time to live and you keep waking up every day, you hold the mindset that God has given me a purpose and the chance to make a positive impact on each person. And that’s how he lived his life.”

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The Albert Fernandez family asks that memorial gifts be made in his name to Mount Marty University for the purpose of establishing the Albert Fernandez Memorial Scholarship. The family has asked that individuals wishing to support the scholarship go to mountmarty.edu/giving/ways-to-give-a-gift-online/, select “others” under “area of support” and enter Albert Fernandez Memorial as the designation.

Checks may be mailed to Mount Marty University, Attn: Albert Fernandez Memorial, 1105 W. 8th Street, Yankton SD 57078

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