InTucker Magazine

Citizens of the Month – Alex & Susan Fernandez

Alex and Susan Fernandez. What can I say? You will never meet a more down-to-earth, fun-loving couple. It is an honor to write about them for Citizens of the Month in the City of Tucker.  

While raising three children, Susan and Alex have had a big impact on their community in so many ways. For starters, Alex has served on the board of the Westhampton Swim Club as President for the last five years or longer. We all know when one spouse volunteers for a large role, they can rarely be successful without the support of their other half. From general maintenance to zhuzhing up the appearance with a fresh coat of paint and a new rug in the entryway to buying supplies and manning the grill for our annual pool parties over the major holidays, these two are an integral part of keeping the pool running and aesthetically nice. When our Pool Operator needed to step down this year, Alex not only volunteered but had to attend a lengthy class and pass a test to perform these duties. His constant tending kept the water nice and blue all summer long! He has even been known to serve fruity beverages while wearing his famous coconut bra. On any given day, you’ll find Susan tirelessly cleaning the bathrooms, tidying the chairs and picking up trash on a regular basis as one of our most unsung heroes. Thank her next time you see her because those bathrooms are no fun!   

When the summer months are over, you will find this pair at the soccer fields. With two daughters who are excellent soccer players, Alex has been coaching and assistant coaching a high school girls team in the TYSA league for many years. Susan can be seen promoting the high school team and gathering volunteers at high profile events like Tucker Day at the team booth. From coordinating practices and assisting when a player needs a ride or an extra hand, they are the epitome of the Soccer Mom and Dad.  

In addition to their community service in the recreational realm, they have been involved in running the Intown Coffeehouse. Intown Coffeehouse exists to support local music and art, promote community building and enhance cross-cultural friendships. Alex started the program from scratch through Intown Community Church located off Lavista Road just a few minutes outside of Tucker. He orchestrated renovating a small building on the campus, adding planks to the wall and painting the rafters with a fun and colorful pattern, as well as many other upgrades to the facility. In the beginning, Alex coordinated with local singer/songwriters to perform, but after word got out, there were bands coming from out of state. In true hospitable fashion, Susan and Alex have on numerous occasions taken the out-of-town performers out to dinner and helped them find a comfy place to sleep. While the pandemic put a damper on this wonderful program for quite some time, give them a follow on Facebook (Intown Coffeehouse) and see what has been going on. You may want to check out the next performance!

Keep an eye out for Susan on your next flight with Delta Airlines. As a senior flight attendant, she not only keeps passengers on her flights safe while serving a beverage with a smile, but she also manages the training program. When you are the best of the best, they promote you to train the rest. She has also been known to volunteer in a program for refugees and internationals who have a desire to work on their English skills. While I’m sure she has been helpful in her endeavors to assist with learning our language, I have no doubt her company was the highlight of their week.  

You’ll never find better friends and neighbors than the Fernandezes.

Nomination by Lenne Nawyn