Katherine “Kay” Fernandez: 1925-2017

10/17/2017

Katherine "Kay" Ritz Fernandez, a longtime supporter of Saint Louis University, died on Thursday, Oct. 12, 2017. She was 92.

Ms. Fernandez was married to Louis Fernandez, who served as chairman of SLU’s Board of Trustees from 1978-1983. An endowed scholarship in the business school was established in their name, and the president’s conference room in DuBourg Hall is named in their honor.

Ms. Fernandez was an active volunteer, including spending many hours reading to children in St. Louis schools as part of Reading is Fundamental. She also served as a commissioner of the Saint Louis Art Museum and was a supporter of the St. Louis Symphony and the Missouri Botanical Garden. She was also a member of the Women’s Council at SLU.

Ms. Fernandez is survived by her daughter JoAnn (Bradley Lais), her sons James (Tamar), Thomas (Craig Pomranz), and Michael (Jessica Berman), her daughter-in-law Linda Blakely, nine grandchildren and a great-grandson. She was predeceased by her husband and a son, Louis.

A visitation and funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis Xavier College Church on Friday, Oct. 20. The visitation begins at 10 a.m. with the Mass following at 11 a.m.