James B. Fernandez

James B. Fernandez, 67 of Milford died on Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at Bon Secours Hospital, Port Jervis. He was 67.

Son of the late Cyril and Lucille (Bradford) Fernandez, he was born on Oct. 8, 1947, in Fort Knox, Ky.

He attended Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy, where he earned an engineering degree. During his time at the Academy he was assigned to ships that supplied the troops in Vietnam. Throughout his 40-year career he advanced within the ranks of merchant marine engineers and retired as chief engineer in 2004.

He maintained the engines that powered merchant ships which supply massive shipments of ordinance in wartime and goods of all sorts in peacetime. Calls home from Jim could have been from any ocean or exotic port – The Maldives, The Phillippines, Diego Garcia, and sometimes his favorites in Europe and the United Kingdom. Like many seamen he had his seafaring attachments: his favorite Captain, his favorite ship’s dog, his favorite crewmates.

Jim was the quintessential "hands-on guy." He repaired and built mechanical items such as: light switches, space heaters and motorcycles, sometimes even inside his small ships cabin. He appreciated precision and order, and would happily adjust a crooked painting or a recipe for steak au poivre or chicken tarragon.

Despite the fact that he traveled around the world, he always returned to Milford. He had lived in Milford as a teen, and also throughout is adult life. He dedicated himself to a floating Trivial Pursuit Game around town. He enjoyed the company of lifelong friends, and he especially loved his connections to his family who would gather at his sister’s home in Milford several times a year.

Survivors include his sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis Fernandez and Cesar Bujosa; cousin Ann Colle; nieces and nephews, John Corkery, Joanna Corkery, Laura Guthridge, Adam Dukes and Sarah McWilliams.

Memorial donations may be made to the Ecumenical Food Pantry of Pike County (110 West Catharine St., Milford, PA).