Fernando Cadena

Fernando Cadena Cepeda, age 75, of Las Cruces, NM, died on May 1. His life story is a testament to the power of family, faith, and service. Born in Monterrey, México, he was the fourth child of Luz María Cepeda de la Garza and Raúl Cadena Reyes. Fernando's upbringing was enriched by the presence of his surviving siblings Raúl, Marilú, Javier, and Nora, forging bonds that would last a lifetime.

Fernando's family history is interwoven with remarkable individuals who shaped Mexico's past. On his mother's side, his grandfather, Manuel Cepeda Medrano, was a key figure in the 1910 Revolution, later serving in the Constitutional Congress and as Treasurer General of the Nation under President Carranza. On his father’s side, his grandmother, María Reyes Cárdenas, overcame profound hardships and defied societal limitations in order to care for her family. During a time when women couldn't become doctors, she persevered to earn her medical degree and practiced obstetrics. This legacy of purpose, devotion, service, and compassion would continue to guide Fernando’s actions throughout his life.

From his early years, Fernando displayed a deep love for the natural world. He formed a special bond with his German Shepherd, Lobo, and his childhood adventures included raising a duck named Donald. He also cultivated an ill-fated ant farm until an unfortunate accident with the house cleaner. His childhood adventures included acquiring a goat as a gift from a friend's ranch, leading to the surprise of his mother’s life when she opened his closet – and a swift return of the goat to its rightful home. Even a basement chemistry experiment gone explosively wrong couldn't dampen Fernando's curiosity about nature, science, and exploration.

During his formative years, Fernando learned surveying from his father, a civil engineer. He also found solace and adventure in hiking with Lobo in the pine forests of Chipinque overlooking Monterrey.

Academically inclined, Fernando's achievements included degrees in Civil Engineering from ITESM ("Monterrey Tech"), a Master's in Sanitary Engineering from NMSU, and a PhD in Environmental Engineering from Caltech. He excelled as a professor of Civil Engineering at ITESM and later as a professor of Environmental Engineering at NMSU.

Throughout his career, Fernando's passion for safeguarding water resources led him to academia, consulting, and international collaborations. As a professor and researcher, he dedicated himself to making water safe for New Mexicans, leaving an indelible mark on the field of environmental engineering, earning accolades such as the Bromilow Award for Excellence in Research at NMSU. Beyond academia, Fernando's expertise extended to consulting roles with organizations like the Elephant Butte Irrigation District and the International Boundary and Water Commission.

His commitment to global issues led him to collaborate with the United Nations and Engineers Without Borders. He traveled extensively as part of the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency inspection team, evaluating medical atomic waste systems in countries across Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe. He also contributed his engineering skills to projects like designing an orphanage in Mérida, Yucatán, México.

However, Fernando's true legacy lies in his unwavering dedication to family and community. Guided by his faith in Jesus Christ, he exemplified service through mentoring students, volunteering as a lay leader at church, and welcoming immigrants with open arms. His spiritual journey, which began through the campus ministry of The Navigators at NMSU, became a cornerstone of his life.

He met his wife, Stephanie, in Pasadena, CA and they married shortly after Fernando graduated from Caltech in 1977. After their honeymoon, they moved to Monterrey, México where Fernando worked at ITESM. They eventually settled in Las Cruces, NM in 1980, where they raised three remarkable daughters: Carolyn, Katie, and Laura. Their home was filled with laughter, terrible jokes that brought tears of joy, and lighthearted family dinners. Fernando instilled in his daughters the values of strength, resilience, and compassion. He later found joy as a grandfather to his four grandchildren: Derrick, Kyler, Micaiah, and Jeremiah.

Throughout his life, Fernando's warm and welcoming nature extended beyond his immediate family, earning him a reputation in his community for his generosity of spirit, kindness, and eager and unwavering support for immigrants and newcomers. His life story serves as a testament to the enduring impact of faith, academic pursuit, global citizenship, and a commitment to service, inspiring others to follow in his footsteps and make a positive impact in the world. In every laughter-filled dinner, heartfelt welcome, and act of service, he left an enduring imprint on the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him, a testament to a life lived with purpose, love, and devotion.

Fernando is loved and missed by his wife, Stephanie Cadena of Las Cruces, NM; daughters, Carolyn Cadena (partner Otilio Reyes) of Las Cruces, NM, Katie Leonard (husband Dustin Leonard) of Las Cruces, NM, and Laura Cadena (husband Jack Newton) of Salisbury, United Kingdom; grandchildren, Derrick, Kyler, Micaiah, and Jeremiah, all of Las Cruces, NM; siblings, Raúl Cadena (wife Clarissa), Marilú Cadena, Javier Cadena (wife Consuelo), and Nora Cadena (husband Jesús), all of Monterrey, México; many beloved nieces and nephews; and countless friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Raúl Cadena and Luz María Cepeda; his brother, Andrés Cadena; and his brother-in-law Rodolfo Sandoval. Fernando cherished all of his family deeply, leaving a lasting mark on the lives of each one.

Memorial Service: June 1, 2024, 10:00 a.m. at First Evangelical Free Church of Las Cruces, 1435 Pecos Street. Livestream video of the service can be accessed at 10:00 a.m. at https://evt.live/fernando-cadena-memorial. Open house potluck reception to immediately follow at the Leonard family home. Interment will be at Parque Funeral Guadalupe in Monterrey, México.

The family holds deepest appreciation for all of the staff and residents at The Legacy at Cimarron, where Fernando resided for sixteen months. They provided him with loving care and cherished him deeply. We are forever grateful for their kindness. The family’s gratitude extends to the warm and compassionate nurses at The Hospitals of Providence Transmountain and the extraordinary team at Mesilla Valley Hospice for their attentive care and comfort. Fernando's final days were also profoundly enriched by the outpouring of care, support, song, and fellowship from his dear friends at First Evangelical Free Church. He felt the love of his community deeply during this time, which is an enduring gift of immeasurable value to the family. The family is also grateful to their local friends who generously provided meals during Fernando's final days at home. These acts of love and service will never be forgotten.