STATEMENT OF RHODE ISLAND GOVERNOR-ELECT LINCOLN D. CHAFEE REGARDING THE PASSING OF JOSEPH FERNANDEZ
Monday, December 20, 2010
It was with great sadness that I learned of the death of Joe Fernandez, a dedicated public servant who worked tirelessly on behalf of the people of the city of Providence and the state of Rhode Island.
Joe was an excellent Providence city solicitor, choosing to leave a private law practice to serve our capital city. He was also an active and committed alumnus of our shared alma mater, serving as president of the Brown Alumni Association and a trustee of the Brown Corporation.
Joe was a loving and devoted father and husband, and I know that this is a time of great difficulty and pain for Joe’s family. My thoughts are with his wife, Emily Maranjian, and his two young daughters.
Joe and I both ran for office this year, and throughout the course of the campaign I witnessed firsthand his energy, intelligence, and deep commitment to the state we love. It was clear to me that Joe was seeking office for the right reasons: to bring honesty, integrity, and transparency to government, with a genuine desire to make life better for the people of Rhode Island. Although he was unsuccessful in that race, Rhode Island is better off for the themes and ideals Joe brought to the campaign. We can honor him best by bearing in mind what he stood for, and by remembering the fine example he set for all of us.