Obituary of Jose Luis Fernandez de Albornoz

January 30, 2021

José Luis Fernández de Albornoz
Born: April 28, 1957, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Death: Jan. 30, 2021, Manhattan, NY (myocardial infarction)

Dr. Fernández was an Assistant Professor, an Attending Physician, and the Director for Quality Assurance and Patient Safety in the Department of Emergency Medicine at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. He also was the Physician compliance leader for the Emergency Department. Following his graduation from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Fernández completed his medical education at New York University School of Medicine, where he graduated with Honors. Dr. Fernández completed a residency in Internal Medicine at New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center and was board certified in both Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine. He received a service recognition award from the Emergency Department at Weill-Cornell for longevity and dedication to the specialty of Emergency Medicine. Dr. Fernández was particularly interested in infectious diseases.

He was a lover of the sciences, poetry, opera, and issues of international justice.

He is survived by Conchita "Tani" Fernández (sister); Emilio Escudero (brother-in-law); Diego Escudero (nephew); Sofía Escudero (niece); Scott Hightower (life-partner); his Chi Phi Fraternity brothers; and his life-long friends from Academia del Perpetuo Socorro in Miramar.

The Escudero-Fernández charity chosen for donations:
"The Arthur Ashe Institute-Health Science Academy is a science enrichment program for high achieving high school students interested in health and science careers; it inspires and prepares the next generation of culturally competent minority healthcare professionals."
https://www.arthurasheinstitute.org/health-science-academy

The Hightower charity chosen for donations:
LM Garden and Civic Club
c/o Tico Hicks
218 South 6th St.
Lometa, Tx 76853
"Anything will grow anywhere if you take care of it."

ONE BURNING CANDLE

(Scott Hightower)

Much like our Jacobeon Álvaro
de Albornoz mushing issues

of a new constitution through ink
and practice; and Victoria Kent,

implementing the policies
of a precarious Second

Spanish Republic, it takes
a committed team; ahead

perhaps only faltering, losing––
even… exiled… for one's side.

"I'm not convinced it was
the wrong one," in custody,

Captain Reynolds
of the Serenity (a "firefly"),

responding point-blank
to Commander Harken.

"Geography may be
a bit difficult to arrange;"

history can be resistant to accommodation,
but it can do it. Tonight, we meet

Baltasar Garzón. An arm-in-arm stroll
through Washington Square Park

brings us––film-makers,
physician, poet, judge––

to a table at Babbo. There
we discuss Snowden.

Fellow pilgrim, the destinations
that draw us, drain us

of little virtue. We ostentatiously
sing and dance in our grief.

One ceremonially tells the others
ancient tales of Gilgamesh

and Laocoön. "We sat
by the waters of Babylon

and wept." "There can be
no vindication of fascism."

The starched cuffs of your shirt
remain fresh-pressed

and crisp. The dignity
of international justice

is the grooming
of a kind of love.

*

UNA VELA ARDIENTE
(Translation: Guadalupe Ruiz Fajardo)

Al igual que nuestro jacobeo Álvaro
de Albornoz amasando los asuntos

de una nueva constitución a base de tinta
y práctica; y Victoria Kent,

implementando las políticas
de una precaria Segunda

República española, se necesita
un equipo entregado; más adelante

quizá solo flaqueando, perdiendo--
incluso ... exiliado ... por el lado de uno.

"No estoy convencido de que
fuera el lado equivocado," estando en custodia,

el capitán Reynolds
del Serenity (una "luciérnaga"),

responde sin rodeos
al comandante Harken.

"La geografía puede ser
un poco difícil de organizar";

la historia puede ser resistente a los acuerdos,
pero puede hacerlos. Esta noche, nos encontramos

con Baltasar Garzón. Un paseo del brazo
atravesando Washington Square Park

nos lleva––cineastas,
médico, poeta, juez––

a una mesa en Babbo. Allí
hablamos de Ed Snowden.

Compañero peregrino, los destinos
que nos arrastan, nos vacían

de la poca virtud. Nosotros con ostento,
cantamos y bailamos en nuestro dolor.

Uno le dice ceremonialmente a los demás
relatos antiguos de Gilgamesh

y Laocoonte. "Nos sentamos
por los rios de Babilonia

y lloramos". "No puede haber
ninguna reivindicación del fascismo".

Los puños almidonados de tu camisa
siguen como recién planchados

y nítidos. La dignidad
de la justicia internacional

es la preparación
para cierta clase de amor.