Since the tragic death of New Bedford Firefighter Eric Fernandes in 2011, family members and friends have been working to keep his memory alive by raising money to provide scholarships for children of New Bedford firefighters aspiring to attend college.
Two of Fernandes' closest friends, brothers Wade and Garrett Gomes, have joined his family in raising money through poker tournaments, and more recently, a golf tournament.
The Gomes brothers joined Townsquare Sunday to talk about their friend and the upcoming Eric Fernandes Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament, happening Sunday, August 24 at the Acushnet Valley Golf Club.
"I met him first in high school," Garrett Gomes said. "He was a funny guy. We became very close, and he was a big fan of Howard Stern. Eric became a firefighter shortly after earning his bachelor's degree from UMass Dartmouth."
During that time, Wade Gomes, a teacher, started to hang with Fernandes and they became close as well.
"He and I became close friends during the last few years of his life," Wade said. "Eric had really big dreams, big goals, had just bought a house and wanted to move up into leadership in the Fire Department."
All of that ended in 2011 with Eric's passing. The Gomes brothers said Eric is still missed and loved by his family and friends.
"We wanted to help his family and keep his name alive," Garrett said. "Together with a core group of about eight to 10 people, we began to hold poker tournaments and other events to raise money for scholarships for the children of firefighters."
The Eric Fernandes Memorial Scholarship Golf Tournament started five years ago and has grown each year. Registration is still open and you can sign up online. Sponsorships and donations are also being accepted.
Over the last 11 years, the Eric Fernandes Memorial Trust Fund has awarded $130,000 in scholarships to children of New Bedford firefighters.
"Eric really valued education and he was really passionate about being a New Bedford Firefighter," Wade said. "We just felt like putting those two things together would be the best way to memorialize him."
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Gallery Credit: Kate Robinson
Gallery Credit: Kate Robinson
