On Thursday, May 02, 2024, Joe Fernandez Jr. passed away at the age of 78. A Gilroy native, Joe was dearly cherished as a husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Joe's devotion to his family and his infectious spirit of humor and generosity left a lasting impact on everyone he encountered.

Joe had a talent for automobiles and motorcycles which was not just his profession but a passion of his. With over a half century of experience as an auto mechanic, he was the go-to person for anyone in need of car repairs, always willing to lend a hand to friends and family.

Working on cars was his way of bonding and fostering meaningful connections with his family and especially with his nephew Fabian. Although he endeavored to teach all his children basic mechanics, their role often amounted to fetching tools. Beyond the garage, his passion for cars extended to the racetrack, particularly during his drag racing days with his brother John.

When he wasn't cruising in his classic cars or listening to the nostalgic tunes of oldies on the radio, Joe could be found cheering on the San Francisco 49ers and indulging in sports or car restoration shows.

He embodied the essence of a true gentleman, a man's man, a timeless friend, mentor, and father figure to many.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Fernandez; his brother, John (Linda); his sisters, Delia, Aurelia, and Mary-Lou; his daughter, Yvette, and her children, Daniel, Andrea (Aurelio), Samuel, Domenic, and Eli, as well as great-grandchildren Sonia, Alyssa, Leo, and Saige; his daughter, Hortencia, and her children, Veronica, Sabrina, Josiah, and Devina, along with great-grandchildren Michelle, Mikayla, Joshua, Macie, Marcus, Adrian, Nathan, and Nora, and great-great-grandchildren Ayden, Jeremiah, and Amaya; his daughter, Melissa (Michael), and her children Lily, Michael II, and Maya.

Joe is also survived by many loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, and a host of longtime friends.

Joe is preceded in death by his brother, Oscar, and parents, Joe Sr., and Socorro.