Michael F. Fernando M.D.

Albany-Michael F. Fernando MD, 67, passed away on November 4th 2009 surrounded by his loving family and friends in St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany. Dr. Michael Fernando was born on October 3rd, 1942 in Nuwara-Eliya, Sri Lanka. He graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo in 1969. In 1971, he relocated to the United States to do an internship at St. Clare’s hospital and ultimately his residency at New York University’s Rusk Institute in Rehabilitation Medicine. He made his home in Altoona, Pennsylvania in 1979 where he lived with his wife and son until 1988. From there he relocated to Albany where he now resides and where he practiced at his beloved place of work the Eddy Cohoes Rehabilitation Center and the Eddy Heritage house. For those who knew him, Dr. Fernando practiced with compassion and empathy, had the gentlest of hearts, spoke with the kindest of words, and enriched the lives of those whom he touched. He was a devoted husband, loving father, and imparted a rarity of selflessness and purity of thought we should all strive to embrace. He espoused and embodied the ideals of Buddhism and cherished a meditation of loving-kindness which carried him through his illness: “May I be Free from Anger; May I be Free from Ill Will; May I be Free from Mental and Physical Suffering; May I look after Myself and Live Happily -as I am. So may my Noble Mentors, My Wife Nelun and My Son Praveen, All our Relatives, My Friendly Beings, Indifferent Beings, and Unfriendly Beings, Be Free From Anger; Be Free From Ill Will; Be Free from Mental and Physical Suffering; May They look after Themselves, Live Happily, and Be Free from Suffering; May whatever They have Gained, Not be Lost, All Beings are Owners of Their Kamma.” Dr. Fernando is survived by his wife of 35 years Nelun, and his son Michael. Funeral services Saturday, November 7, 2009 at 6:30 pm in the McVeigh Funeral Home, 208 North Allen Street, Albany. Relatives and friends are invited and may call Saturday, November 7, 2009 3:00 to 7:00 pm in the funeral home. Those wishing to remember Dr. Fernando in a special way may send a contribution to the American Cancer Society, 260 Osborne Road, Loudonville, NY 12211 To leave the family a special message on their guestbook; obtain directions or a Prayer Card; or share a photo with the family, please go to www.McveighFuneralHome.com

Tributes

Michael F. Fernando M.D.

October 3, 1942 - November 4, 2009