Deloitte Colleagues Honor Jackie Fernandez ’79 with Accounting Scholarship
Jackie Fernandez ’79 was the kind of employee many companies dream of hiring: hard working, dependable and a great leader. She cared deeply about her colleagues, going out of her way to mentor and develop rising leaders. After more than 35 years at Deloitte, including more than 20 as a partner, Jackie retired as a beloved colleague, regarded by many as “part of my family.” She also was among the first generation of women to be both a partner and a mother, making her a trailblazer and role model for those who followed in her footsteps.
Shortly after her retirement, Jackie was diagnosed and lost her battle with cancer, leaving behind her husband Manny Fernandez ’80, whom she met at LMU, and son Jimmy. As a tribute to her as a friend and colleague, current and past Deloitte partners and employees established the Jacqueline M. Fernandez ’79/Deloitte Foundation Endowed Memorial Scholarship at the LMU College of Business Administration.
Deloitte Partner Brent Schoenbaum, one of Jackie’s early mentees, says their families became so close that they often vacationed together. For him, the scholarship was a way to memorialize his friend’s many accomplishments at Deloitte.
“Jackie’s dedication to her profession and to those around her was to develop the next generation of professionals in the firm,” said Schoenbaum. “Her battle with cancer didn’t define her life; we felt it was best to recognize and honor the contributions she made to Deloitte, including that she mentored so many of us over the years. Our intention is to give a scholarship to a worthy student at LMU. I can think of nothing better than to have the longevity of a scholarship carry on her name.”
Herb Perlmutter, retired partner of Deloitte, was one of the first to support this newly-established scholarship. He explains his motivation behind the gift.
“We thought about what we could do to honor Jackie that would make her proud and have her name live on,” he said. “The accounting profession and LMU were both really important to her, so we thought it would be nice to have a scholarship in her name. We also liked the idea of meeting the scholarship recipient and having the chance to celebrate Jackie once a year.”
Named scholarships at LMU are more than a way to honor a loved one, they also help recruit and retain the brightest students, regardless of their ability to pay. For the LMU Accounting Department, the ability to award scholarships to deserving students is a testament to their hard work and dedication to their studies.
“Scholarships are a tremendous benefit to the students,” said Laurel Franzen, chair of the department. “They obviously help in terms of financial support, but also students take pride in being awarded a scholarship. It gives them a sense that someone believes in them.”
If that someone was Jackie Fernandez, then her scholarship recipients can delight in the fact that she was the kind of person who lifted people up and encouraged them to achieve their full potential.
According to Kelly Brookie, retired partner at Deloitte, “Jackie was one of the hardest working people I’ve ever met. She adored her family and had a special gift of developing deep, meaningful friendships. Jackie was a big influence in my life, and she’ll continue to make a big impact for years to come.”
To honor someone you love with a named scholarship at LMU College of Business Administration, contact Roberta Kuhlman, CBA senior director of development, at roberta.kuhlman@lmu.edu or contribute to an existing scholarship by visiting here.