ICSD / Deaflympics CEO Ralph Fernandez passes away
Ralph Fernandez, who was the CEO of the ICSD/Deaflympics, unexpectedly passed away on Sunday, January 5.
ICSD President Dr. Adam Kosa said in a Facebook post that it is “with profound sadness” that they have to announce that Fernandez died at his home in Washington, D.C.
USA Deaf Sports Federation President Jeffrey Mansfield said “Ralph was one of a kind” and was a “dedicated and tenacious engine for the Deaf sports movement, often working in the trenches unseen, and going above and beyond for Deaf athletes…”
The cause of death has not been disclosed by either USADSF or ICSD. The USADSF said they request that our community respect the privacy of Fernandez’s family during this time.
The next Deaflympics event is in Tokyo, Japan this November. I asked USADSF on what the impact of his death would have on the Tokyo games. USADSF President Mansfield said it is a “devastating loss for the Deaf sports community because not only is Ralph a key cog in the system, but he is also a great friend shared by many around the world. He played a key role in building ICSD’s platforms over the last decade or so, so it is a huge loss but I think the ICSD has a solid base and the Tokyo organizing committee has been making great progress so I’m optimistic that any impact on Games planning will be minimal.”
The ICSD/Deaflympics said Fernandez was a former Deaflympian in cycling and the designer of the ICSD/Deaflympics logo.
The USADSF said Fernandez served on their board from 2018 to 2023 and when he was a cycling athlete, he won two Deaflympic medals and was the ICSD Technical Director of Cycling from 2010-2017.
There were many comments and tributes on social media. A notable person in the Deaflympics community, Donalda Ammons, an American who was a former president of the ICSD/Deaflympics, said “Knowing Ralph for more than 40 years, I can say he was a statesman in both USA and international sports world with many immeasurable contributions…”
The Gallaudet University Alumni Association (GUAA) said Fernandez also designed their new logo in 2020 and the Alumni Emeritus medallions that are awarded to all 50-year alumni during Homecoming.
So, Fernandez was certainly a man of many talents and many friendships. It is a tragic loss for the international Deaf community.
https://www.usdeafsports.org/post/in-memoriam-ralph-fernandez
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