CONWAY — Aloof, and known to always shun the limelight, the late S. Jean Fernandez would no doubt be distressed were he to know that any article was being written about him — but given his powerful position in this community as the former president and owner of North Conway Bank, the quiet businessman's passing at age 94 on April 8 bears remembrance.
World War II veteran, Mountain Motors automobile dealership owner, owner of North Conway Lumber, financial leader, vintage car collector in his later years — Fernandez was strongly liked by those who were his friends, as well as feared by some for his financial pull, according to those who knew him.
kAmq642FD6 @7 E92E :?7=F6?46[ D@>6 4@?E24E65 7@C E9:D DE@CJ H@F=5 ?@E 8@ @? C64@C5 7@==@H:?8 E96 AF3=:D9:?8 @7 9:D 4@>A2C2E:G6=J D9@CE @3:EF2CJ :? (65?6D52JVD ?6HDA2A6C]k^Am
kAmQr@>A2C2E:G6=JQ D9@CE[ 3642FD6 96 925 2 7F== =:76[ 2?5 E96 @3:EF2CJ 8:G6D @?=J 2 9:?E @7 E92E]k^Am
kAm$@>6 @AE65 ?@E E@ DA62< H:E9 E96 A2A6C[ D:>A=J @FE @7 C6DA64E 7@C E96 AF3=:4:EJ\D9J 7@C>6C 32?<6CVD A6?492?E 7@C AC:G24J — H9:49 6IE6?565 E@ E96 =24< @7 2?J AF3=:D965 A9@E@8C2A9]k^Am
kAm~?6 H9@ 5:5 D92C6 9:D DE@C:6D E9:D H66< H2D u6C?2?56KVD 7@C>6C =@2? @77:46C[ q:== t5>F?5D[ fb[ @7 $E@H[ |2:?6]k^Am
kAm}@H 2 72C> 6BF:A>6?E C6A2:C>2? 7@C s@??:6 r92?5=6C 2E 9:D 82C286 :? {@G6==[ |2:?6[ t5>F?5D D2:5 96 H@C<65 F?56C u6C?2?56K 7C@> `hef E@ `hhc]k^Am
kAm%96 32?< 925 366? 7@F?565 :? `h__[ 3FE u6C?2?56K C6A@CE65=J 3@F89E :E :? E96 62C=J `he_D] (96? 96 3682? H@C<:?8 E96C6 2D 2 =@2? @77:46C[ t5>F?5D D2:5 E96 32?< H2D :? E96 92?5D@>6 3C:4< 3F:=5:?8 E92E ?@H :D 9@>6 E@ %96 |6E r@77669@FD6 2E aeg_ (9:E6 |@F?E2:? w:89H2J :? }@CE9 r@?H2J]k^Am
kAmt5>F?5D 2?5 9:D ?6H 3C:56 r2C@= 6G6? C6?E65 E96 FADE2:CD 2A2CE>6?E :? E96 324< 255:E:@? @7 E92E 3F:=5:?8 H96? E96J 7:CDE >@G65 ?@CE9]k^Am
kAmQx 42>6 FA 7@C 2 ;@3 :?E6CG:6H 7C@> |2DD249FD6EED] xE E@@< A=246 :? Wu6C?2?56KVDX 42C[ 2?5 H6 E2=<65 2D 96 5C@G6 >6 2C@F?5 2?5 D9@H65 >6 E96 G2==6J[Q D2:5 t5>F?5D] Qw6 H2D 3F:=5:?8 E96 ?6H 32?< 3F:=5:?8 5@H? E96 DEC66E 2E E96 E:>6 W24C@DD 7C@> (9:E6 q:C49 q@@<D[ E96 >@56C?\=@@<:?8 3F:=5:?8 ?@H 9@>6 E@ %s q2?<[ 3F:=E H:E9 C:G6C DE@?6D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ =@42= =@C6X] w6 H2D =@@<:?8 E@ 6IA2?5 E96 =@2? 7F?4E:@? @7 E96 32?< H96? E96J >@G65[ D@ E92E :D 9@H x 8@E :? @? E96 8C@F?5 7=@@C 7@C E92E]Qk^Am
kAm(96? 96 DE2CE65[ t5>F?5D D2:5[ E96 32?< 925 2DD6ED @7 ;FDE @G6C Se >:==:@?] (96? E96 32?< H2D D@=5 :? yF?6 `hhc 2 76H >@?E9D 27E6C t5>F?5D =67E[ E9@D6 2DD6ED DE@@5 2E S`e_ >:==:@?]k^Am
kAmQ%92E H2D 2 E62> 677@CE 7@C DFC6[ H:E9 y62? <66A:?8 G6CJ E:89E C6:?D @? H92E H6?E @? :? E96 @A6C2E:@?[Q D2:5 t5>F?5D @? %9FCD52J] Qw6 H2D ?@E 2 32?<6C H96? 96 3@F89E E96 32?<i 96 H2D ;FDE 2 3FD:?6DD>2? 2E }@CE9 r@?H2J {F>36C 2?5 |@F?E2:? |@E@CD[ 2?5 96 24BF:C65 2 =@E @7 E96 =@42= DE@4< :? E96 32?< 2?5 6G6?EF2==J 8@E 4@?EC@=]Qk^Am
kAmt5>F?5D D2:5 E92E E96 4@>A6E:?8 (9:E6 |@F?E2:? q2?< W?@H r:E:K6?D q2?<X 925 ;FDE DE2CE65 H96? 96 42>6 @? 3@2C5]k^Am
kAmp=E9@F89 D@>6 @=5\E:>6CD C6=2E65 @G6C E96 J62CD E92E E96 C:G2= 32?< H2D 7@F?565 3J q@3 |@CC6== @7 $E@CJ {2?5 2?5 @E96CD 3642FD6 E96J 7@F?5 u6C?2?56K 2E E:>6D E@F89 E@ 562= H:E9[ t5>F?5D D2:5 96 H2D ?@E 2H2C6 @7 2?J :== H:== 36EH66? E96 32?<:?8 :?DE:EFE:@?D]k^Am
kAmQ}@?6 2E 2==[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm Vp qp}z u~# %wt {x%%{t v&*Vk^Am
kAmpD<65 H92E u6C?2?56KVD G:D:@? 2?5 =6824J H2D[ t5>2?5D D2:5 :E H2D CF??:?8 2 32?< 7@C E96 4@>>@? =@42= >2?]k^Am
kAmQw6 925 E96 7@C6D:89E E@ C62=:K6 E92E E96C6 H2D 2 ?665 7@C 2 7:?2?4:2= @FE=6E 7@C E96 D>2== 8FJ :? E@H?] %96 q@3 |@CC6==D 2?5 E96 q:== {6GJD W7@F?56C @7 *:6=5 w@FD6X 2== 5:5 7:?6 — E96J 925 E96 23:=:EJ 2?5 E96 4C656?E:2=D] qFE E96 D>2== 8FJ[ H@C<:?8 7@C |@F?E2:? |@E@CD 2?5 ECJ:?8 E@ 86E 2 42C =@2? — 7@C 2 8FJ =:<6 E92E[ 86EE:?8 2 =@2? H2D 2 >2;@C @A6C2E:@?] %92E H2D E96 4FDE@>6C H9@ 96 H2D 27E6C]Qk^Am
kAmpD<65 23@FE 9:D 7@C>6C 3@DDV C64=FD:G6 ?2EFC6[ t5>F?5D D2:5i Q%92E H2D ;FDE 9:D H2J] w6 ?6G6C =:<65 E96 DA@E=:89E[ ?@E 7@C 2?JE9:?8 96 6G6C 5:5 7@C E96 4@>>F?:EJ @C 6G6? 7@C E96 32?<] tG6? :7 96 5:5 D@>6E9:?8 7@C E96 32?< 6>A=@J66D[ E96 =2DE E9:?8 96 H2?E65 H2D E@ 36 E92?<65]Qk^Am
kAm~G6C E96 J62CD[ >2?J 92G6 D2:5 96 — 2?@?J>@FD=J — 5:5 >2?J E9:?8D 7@C A6@A=6[ 3FE 282:?[ 96 H2?E65 ?@ 244=2:> 7@C 2?J @7 :E]k^Am
kAmx? C6E:C6>6?E[ u6C?2?56K 2?5 7C:6?5D |2FC:46 uC6496EE6[ y@9? (9:E6D:56D 2?5 @E96CD @7E6? 4@F=5 36 D66? D92C:?8 2 4FA @7 4@7766[ 6:E96C 2E %H@>3=JVD |2C<6E :? t2DE r@?H2J @C sF?<:? s@?FED :? }@CE9 r@?H2J]k^Am
kAmr2==D A=2465 E@ uC6496EE6 2?5 @E96CD H6C6 ?@E C6EFC?65 2D @7 AC6DD E:>6 %9FCD52J]k^Am
kAm$w~% s~(} ~'t# t&#~!tk^Am
kAmpE 2 492?46 6?4@F?E6C[ E9:D C6A@CE6C H@F=5 2=H2JD 8C66E u6C?2?56K[ 2D<:?8 :7 96 4@F=5 D@>652J HC:E6 2 DE@CJ 23@FE 9:D (@C=5 (2C xx 6IA6C:6?46D @7 A2C249FE:?8 @FE @7 9:D 3@>36C 27E6C :E H2D D9@E 5@H?]k^Am
kAmu6C?2?56K H@F=5 2=H2JD ?@5[ 2?5 H2G6 9:D 2C>[ 3FE 2=2D[ E92E :?E6CG:6H ?6G6C E@@< A=246]k^Am
kAmt5>F?5D EC:65 E@ 7:== :? E96 3=2?<D]k^Am
kAmQ%96J H6?E 5@H? @G6C E96 !JC6?66D |@F?E2:?D] w6 2?5 E96 =2E6 y@9? {2?56CD Ws@4 wFDD6JVD 7@C>6C 52:CJ 72C> 32C? >2?286C @? E96 (6DE $:56X H6?E 5@H? :? E96 D2>6 A=2?6 — E96J 6?565 FA 9:<:?8 @G6C E96 >@F?E2:?D 7C@> $A2:? 2?5 :?E@ uC2?46[ H96C6 E96J H6C6 96=A65 @FE] %96J H6C6 ?6G6C 42AEFC65] w6 H2D E96 H2:DE 8F??6C] w6 D2:5 E96J E@@< EH@ @C E9C66 9:ED 2E E96 E2:= @7 E96 A=2?6[ 2?5 96 D2:5 E96J <?6H E96J 925 E@ 32:= @FE]Qk^Am
kAmu6==@H (@C=5 (2C xx 3@>36C E2:= 8F??6C G6E6C2? 2?5 r@?H2J C6D:56?E t2C= Q$>:EEJQ $>:E9[ ha — H9@ H2D D9@E 5@H? 2?5 96=5 2D 2 AC:D@?6C @7 H2C 367@C6 C6EFC?:?8 E@ t?8=2?5 — 925 2 D=:89E=J 5:776C6?E E2<6]k^Am
kAmx? 2 }@G6>36C a_`a :?E6CG:6H H:E9 %96 r@?H2J s2:=J $F?[ $>:EEJ D2:5 E96J H6C6 3@E9 A2CE @7 E96 bgcE9 q@>36C vC@FA[ dcfE9 $BF25C@?[ 2?5 E92E Qx 5:5?VE <?@H 9:> E96?[ 3FE y62? u6C?2?56K H2D D9@E 5@H? 2 >@?E9 27E6C H6 8@E WE@ E96 E96 2:C7:6=5 :? vC27E@?\&?56CH@@5[ t?8=2?5 :? ~4E@36C `hcbX] w6 H2D C6D4F65 3J E96 uC6?49 &?56C8C@F?5[ 2?5 E96J 8F:565 9:> 5@H? 24C@DDÂ uC2?46Â 2?5 @G6C E96 !JC6?66D 2?5 :?E@Â $A2:?]Qk^Am
kAmt5>F?5D 2=D@ D92C65 DE@C:6D @7 u6C?2?56KVD J@FE9]k^Am
kAmQw:D A2C6?ED 42>6 @G6C 7C@> $A2:? E@ '6C>@?E[Q D2:5 t5>2?5D[ QH96C6 y62? H2D 3@C? :? |@?EA6=:6C] %96? E96J >@G65 E@ }@CE9 r@?H2J[ H96C6 9:D 72E96C C2? 2 3FE496C 3FD:?6DD] %96 DE2?52C5 @7 =:G:?8 2?5 H286D H6C6 8C62E6C 96C6[ D@ E92E H2D E96 :562 7@C E96> E@ D2G6 >@?6J D@ E96J 4@F=5 C6EFC? E@ $A2:?] %96J 5:5 E92E[ 3FE y62? H2?E65 E@ 36 96C6[ D@ 2? 2CC2?86>6?E H2D >256 7@C 9:> E@ 4@>6 96C6 2?5 =:G6 H:E9 72>:=J 7C:6?5D H9@ C2? }@CE9 r@?H2J {F>36C]Qk^Am
kAmx? E96 `hb_D[ u6C?2?56K A=2J65 7@C E96 }@CE9 r@?H2J vC2?:E6D 9@4<6J E62>] Qy62? u6C?2?56K H2D 2 G6CJ 7:?6 A=2J6C[Q 244@C5:?8 E@ x?E6CG2=6VD y@9? r2??6==[ BF@E65 :? 2 }@G] ab[ a_`a[ DE@CJ :? %96 r@?H2J s2:=J $F?]k^Am
kAmu6C?2?56KVD @3:EF2CJ[ 2D AF3=:D965 :? (65?6D52JVD $F? 2?5 E96 &?:@? {6256C :D C6AC:?E65 36=@Hik^Am
kAm}~#%w r~}(p* — $] y62? u6C?2?56K[ hc[ @7 }@CE9 r@?H2J 5:65 pAC:= g[ a_`d[ 2E E96 |6>@C:2= w@DA:E2= :? }@CE9 r@?H2J[ 7@==@H:?8 2 3C:67 :==?6DD] q@C? :? |@?EA6=:6C[ 'E][ E96 D@? @7 |2?F6= 2?5 |6?2 |:6C W|@?E6X u6C?2?56K[ 96 8C6H FA :? }@CE9 r@?H2J] sFC:?8 (@C=5 (2C xx[ 96 D6CG65 9:D 4@F?ECJ :? E96 bgcE9 q@>3 vC@FA] |C] u6C?2?56K H2D AC6D:56?E @7 E96 }@CE9 r@?H2J q2?< 7@C >@C6 E92? d_ J62CD] w6 H2D AC656462D65 3J 9:D =@G:?8 H:76[ p=G2 u] u6C?2?56K[ :? `hhg] w6 925 @?6 52F89E6C[ y62??6 #] u6C?2?56K @7 }@CE9 r@?H2J]k^Am
kAm$t#'xrt$i vC2G6D:56 D6CG:46D H:== 36 96=5 :? E96 }@CE9 r@?H2J r6>6E6CJ =2E6C :? E96 DAC:?8] s@?2E:@?D >2J 36 >256 E@ E96 ':D:E:?8 }FCD6 2?5 w@DA:46 r2C6 $6CG:46D @7 }@CE96C? r2CC@== r@F?EJ[ !]~] q@I cba[ }@CE9 r@?H2J[ }w _bge_ @C 2 492C:EJ @7 @?6VD 49@:46] %96 uFC36C 2?5 (9:E6 uF?6C2= w@>6 :? }@CE9 r@?H2J :D :? 492C86 @7 2CC2?86>6?ED]%@ D6?5 2 >6DD286 @7 4@?5@=6?46 @C 7@C >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?[ G:D:E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^HHH]7FC36C2?5H9:E6]4@>QmHHH]7FC36C2?5H9:E6]4@>k^2m]k^Am
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.