Dietrich A. “Tex” Hernandez
Dietrich A. “Tex” Hernandez, 84, of Danbury CT, passed away on August 22, 2021, at Regional Hospice with family beside him. Tex now joins his late mother, Margarete Lichtwald Hernandez, his father, Luis Gomez Hernandez, and his daughter, Rebecca Marie Hernandez, in eternal life. Tex was a loving husband of 59 years to surviving wife, Marie Hernandez, and a devoted father to his remaining daughters Samantha and Veronica Hernandez, and son Dietrich Hernandez, Jr. with wife Shannon Hernandez. Tex departs his surviving and beloved siblings Margarita Hernandez, Dorian Hernan, and Wanda Owens with husband, Gary Owens, and his cherished grandchildren, Ciera, Morgan, Faith, and Arianna Hernandez, and his adoring chihuahua and siesta partner, Chi Chi.
Tex was born in Hamburg Germany and at age 3 migrated with family to Bronx, NY, where he was raised and developed a love of country music and cowboy boots from which his nickname was coined. After graduating from Samuel Gompers Career and Technical Education High School he joined the U.S. Navy, and after active service began his courtship, with his soon to be wife, in a candy store. With an avid curiosity for how things work, an engineer’s mind, and an unstoppable tinkering habit, Tex pursued a career as a technical writer after graduating from RCA Institute with honors. His dedicated professional career began and ended at Perkin Elmer (aka Hughes, Raytheon, Goodrich Optical) of Danbury, with proud contributions toward many classified projects and the creation of the Hubble Space Telescope. To shorten his commute from NY he moved to Danbury, and later earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Western Connecticut State University.
Tex will be remembered for his love of life and the outdoors, chasing the sun while RV camping with Marie, working in the yard often, fishing, traveling to work by motorcycle, and for years of unselfish devotion to The Boy Scouts & The Leadership of Cub Scout Pack 117. Forever a Mr. Fix It, nothing was ever left broken that he could not repair, and if there was nothing to fix there was always a model train set to build upon and enjoy. Tex often celebrated his German, Mexican and Spanish heritage with music and food, especially sweet pastries, and his cooking specialties of homemade bread, authentic tacos, gingerbread cookies, apple pie and more. Forever a romantic he looked forward to weekly ballroom dances where he savored embracing his wife as they danced with joy to the beat of their hearts. Neighbors will remember Tex most as hosting the annual summer circle picnics in his neighborhood cul-de-sac, where families enjoyed food and fun until the stars came out and it was time to roast marshmallows by bonfire. Parents relaxed as they watched Tex lead excited children through potato sack and three-legged races, watermelon eating contests, and egg tosses. When there were no longer prizes left to hand out, there were always magic tricks to perform to the kids’ delight. Tex’s love of life followed him wherever he was, creating smiles, and that is how he will be remembered.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, September 2nd, 11:00am at St. Elizabeth Seton Church, 520 Ridgebury Rd., Ridgefield, CT. Burial with military honors will follow in St. Peters Cemetery, 71 Lake Ave. Extension, Danbury, CT.
Friends will be received Wednesday, September 1st, 5pm-8pm at Green Funeral Home, 57 Main St., Danbury, CT.
Contributions in Tex’s memory may be made to the American School for the Deaf, Office of Institutional Advancement, 139 N. Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107 or go to https://www.asd1817.org/support-us/donatenow .