MADERA - Local sports icon Hank “The Hawk” Hernandes (85) passed away at the age of 85 peacefully at home on December 3, 2023, in the presence of his loving family.
On the Madera High School sports field, Hank was awarded MVP, team captain, and all-league honors. After high school, he went to Fresno City College, where he played in the Sequoia Bowl as quarterback.
Hank passed on his athletic skills and strong moral ethics to younger athletes by coaching Little League, Babe Ruth, and Pop Warner football for over 25 years, taking many of his teams to championship titles. Many of those athletes benefitted from his coaching by having outstanding careers in sports and their lives. Over the years, Hank and his wife supported the Madera Coyote Boosters. In 2023, Hank was deservedly inducted into the Madera F.A.N. Hall of Fame.
Hank was an avid golfer and played for many years as a member of the Madera Golf and Country Club and with his friends while living at Yosemite Lakes Park. Hank rarely missed watching “his” USC Trojans and the 49ers and enjoyed attending his sons’ and grandchildren’s sporting events.
Hank’s wit and fun personality served him well during his career as a salesman at Noble Meat Company, and Hormel Meats, owning his own sports store and retiring after 25 years as a salesperson for Kraft Foods. He also enjoyed part-time jobs at Hodge & Sons, Patrick James, and Duncan & Schied to support his stylist clothing habit over the years.
Hank met and married his high school sweetheart, JoAnn. They were married for 62 years at the time of his death.
Hank was preceded in death by his parents, Jess and Delphine Hernandez, together with his siblings Eva Gutierrez, Louis Hernandez, and Linda May.
He is survived by his wife, JoAnn; his two sons, Randy (Nanette) and Rick; and grandchildren, Taylor, Cameron, and Rikki Hernandes. His siblings Jim Hernandez, Mary Jean Camarena, Millie (Don) Tishmacher, and Patrick (Jen) Hernandez also survive.
The family would like to thank Hinds Hospice for the compassionate care shown to Hank and the entire family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to Hinds Hospice, 2490 W. Shaw Avenue, Suite 101, Fresno, CA 93711, or your favorite charity.
Tuesday
December 19, 2023
11:0 AM
St Joachim Church
401 West 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
