GUAM BASEBALL LOSES KIN FERNANDEZ

By Patrick Lujan

Guam’s baseball community is still in shock over the loss of Kin Fernandez, a long time player, coach and umpire.

Fernandez suddenly passed away early Sunday morning (Mother’s Day), apparently in his sleep.

He had just umpired an amateur league baseball game Saturday morning and finalized the roster of Guam’s Little League Girls Senior Softball team set for Jakarta next month. Fernandez was selected as team manager and the team is set to depart on June 15.

Kindu was part of our baseball footprint for decades. He was part of the GML champion UOG Tritons of the 1990’s, multiple Guam national baseball teams and coached many teams (baseball and softball) throughout the years. He was an active umpire as well.

“One of the local greats of my generation,” said Joe Tuquero, former UOG teammate and current Guam National Team manager. “Also a great coach; always giving back. God Bless.”

He was an educator as well, earning his doctoral degree in eduacation. His most recent assignment was as an assistant principal at JFK.

Fernandez was a standout athlete at GCC in football (Class of 1992).

Jimmy ‘The Principal’ Reyes

Kin was known and loved by many. His very calm, collected, and peaceful demeanor were traits that were present in everything he did.

As a baseball player, Kin was known as “Cadillac.” Everything he did was smooth and flawless. How he played the corners with those hot shots; no problem, still very smooth. No one who has played with or against him can forget his knuckleball pitches that just sailed gracefully through the air as its baffled opposing batters, even at the highest level, such as the 2000 Olympics Qualifier we competed in down in South Africa. As a coach, he used his experience and expertise as a player and an educator to embed within his players the skills they needed to know and have to compete at a high level. As an umpire, he used the rules to guide his thinking and execution but always had the best interests of the game and the athletes at the forefront.

As an educator, an administrator, Dr. Fernandez always saw the good in our students. When it was easy to give up on a student who had no aspirations of graduating, he didn’t and was always working hard to refocus and redirect them from what they envisioned their life being to one that was more successful, ultimately with a focus on being a productive citizen in our society.

Our beloved brother, teammate, coach, umpire, and educator leaves a huge void in our sports and educational communities. More so, he leaves a much greater void in our whole island community as he impacted more than his fair share of young minds in more ways than one. Our island community is definitely a better place because of his selflessness. Kin can always be remembered by those who will share his teachings and be forever grateful for the impact he had in our lives.

Keith Hattig

Kin was a great team player, coach and friend. He always would have a smile and loved to talk about the game. One that was not always looking for credit but always willing to share about the game. Very humble athlete. Truly greatful sharing a beer with him on our most recent fastpitch softball trip to Japan. Rip 🙏 kinman.

Rest in Peace, Kindu.

Guam also lost former GML standout pitcher Daryl Haun on March 22. Haun, an educator as well within the GDOE system, succumbed to a rare form of cancer.