The Tennessee Interfaith Power & Light community was saddened by the sudden death of TIPL state Steering Committee and active volunteer Dan Fernandez earlier this year. Dan brought his experience as a professor of law (Florida, Tennessee, and Minnesota), which included environmental law to the work of caring for God’s good creation when he moved to Nashville right in the middle of COVID to be closer to his son.
In spite of most meetings being via Zoom, Dan immediately became active with TIPL and other environmental organizations. Dan was also an active member of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church located on the Vanderbilt University campus. In that setting he was very engaged in its Justice Salon and in starting the Welcome Garden, an organic CSA which provided work for many neighbors, great food for shareholders, and lots of free food for different Nashville nonprofits.
From Anne Hardin, Welcome Garden Coordinator:
Dan had become such a good friend during his short tenure in Nashville. He and I met on Justice Salon zooms during the pandemic. He was attracted to this group when he heard there was involvement with eco Justice and immediately was excited about TIPL, which you all well know. He was instrumental in helping me get my nonprofit status for the Welcome Garden, and helped us in so many ways with his legal ease: and such a pleasure to know and work with. Y’all pretty much know the rest; he is so missed. With faith, hope, love and gratitude for our beloved Dan.
But more than all of these activities, the the thing that most stood out about Dan was his wonderful smile and his kind spirit. Dan was always glad to pitch in at any level of work and did so with infectious enthusiasm. Those of us in Nashville who worked closely with Dan miss him very much. He was a true gift to this community.
