Tree, chimes honor Hernandez
by Shannon Harrison, managing editor

    A memorial was held last week on NE Campus for a former TCC employee who died last December.

    Mario Hernandez, associate director of NE business services, was killed when his house exploded two weeks before Christmas.

    Dr. Larry Darlage, NE Campus president, introduced Mario’s wife Maria, daughters Margo, Marcy and Martha, his son-in-law John and his grandson Andrew.

    Father Ponza from St. John’s Church talked about Mario.

    “Nobody has touched me more than Mario did in the five hours that I was with him before he passed away,” Ponza said. “I haven’t been in the ministry long, but Mario was a remarkable man.”

    Although weather prevented a scheduled tree planting, Darlage explained the selection of such a tribute.

    “The response to having a live oak tree planted in Mario’s memory was overwhelming,” he said. “He touched so many lives while he was here. Mario was always cheerful, and you always knew when he was coming because you could here him whistling down the hall.”

    The live oak tree is located in the central part of the campus, south of the library. It will be marked with a plaque.

    “The Live Oak tree will stand there for generations to come, just like Mario’s memory will be with us forever,” Darlage said.

    A scholarship fund has also been established in Mario’s name for TCC students.

    “We are on our way to completing a fund for the students,” Darlage said. The spirit of Mario’s gentle helping hand will be with our TCC students all the way.”

    Mario’s son-in-law, John Isbell, spoke about his father-in-law.

    “Mario was a special man,” he said. “I want to say thank-you to everyone at TCC for all the support you have given to us. Mario saw all of you as family, and it means a lot that everyone, whether in spirit or person, has given us your full support.”

    Also, in memory of Mario, people have been asked to donate wind chimes to the school.

    “We thought that wind chimes would be a good idea because they reminded us of Mario,” Tina Frost, administrative accounting clerk, said.

    “Sometimes you could hear Mario, even though you couldn’t see him, and we felt that wind chimes were similar to this and would make us think of him.”

    The memorial ended with a poem titled For Mario, written by Frost.