Kurt Hernandez

Kurt Christopher Hernandez passed away on Saturday January 10th as a result of injuries sustained in a snowboarding accident. At 24 years old, he was a bright light that touched many lives with his thoughtfulness, his sense of humor, his great imagination and his hard-headed determination to face situations on his terms, confidently, even when the deck was stacked against him. He was unique, genuine, thoughtful and introspective, he was a goof, he was beautiful and we loved him dearly. Born in Fremont, CA, Kurt was raised at first in Newark, CA before moving to Fremont. As a small child he was sweet and industrious, busying himself building things that required frequent trips to the hardware store for supplies. Pokemon was his obsession and cartoons were his favorite pastime. When his brother Erik was born he was over the moon with excitement. Max the cat and Toby-dog were his favorite pets. When Max had to be put down due to failing health, Kurt, still a child, cradled and soothed him until the end. In Cub Scouts, Kurt never missed a chance to participate and always looked forward to the annual Pinewood Derby. In Boy Scouts, he loved to camp and had a love-hate relationship with bee-keeping. A late-bloomer in Little League, Kurt worked doubly hard to catch up with the boys that had been in it from an early age. He lived to be on the pitcher's mound and he shined when he got his chance. But Kurt most looked forward to the yearly family trips to Richardson Grove State Park. There, at the Eel River, he would spend a week with his entire family, including his loving grandma, his aunts and uncles and 'the cousins', swimming, diving and catching snakes and frogs. Disneyland was another favorite of his, especially Indiana Jones. Kurt attended Washington High School, where he got the opportunity to intensify his life-long love of all things mechanical in Mr. Nahale's auto shop. He attended Sacramento State for 4 years, where his favorite activities were wakeboarding and weekend tubing in the American River. Retaining residence in Sacramento, he settled on a career in agriculture and soon became an expert in plant care and nurturing: he was a prolific wizard, excelling at the equipment and technical aspects of his job. As a young adult, Kurt remained positive and caring despite many challenges, a hallmark of his entire life: he was tough and resilient. Kurt enjoyed rap and hip-hop and he could always be spotted in his signature Pink Dolphin and Rebel-8 clothing. His constant companion was his beloved English Bulldog, Snookie. When she was stolen from his home as a pup, through incredible, unrelenting effort, Kurt tracked her down and recovered her. Snookie will be well cared for by Kurt's good friend, Ray. He found beauty and comfort in Native American spiritual beliefs of life-force and connectedness, and he took great pride in his grizzly bear and Native American tattoos. He was especially proud of his gardening skills, his family, and his friends in Fremont and Sacramento. Kurt is survived by his loving mother and father, Kathy and Dana; his younger brother, Erik; his grandma, Joan; his aunt Mary Ann, uncle Jeff and his cousins Jeffrey, Joanie, Jenn, Bobby and Brian; his aunt Marilyn, uncle Dave and his cousins Lisa and Tina; his uncle Steven. His casual nature and fun-loving, generous, loving spirit will be missed by all who knew him. In lieu of flowers, please visit www.gofundme.com/kjk960 Kurt found a mentor in Mr. Nahale and was proud of his younger brother Erik's water polo endeavors. Funds will go to Mr. Nahale's Washington High Auto Shop Class, Washington High Water Polo and West Coast Water Polo.