Rafael Hernandez passed away on April 12, 2023. Born in Trinidad on May 16, 1938, he is survived by his beloved wife of 62 years, Jean; his children Jerome, Rosanna, Ana, and Rafael; his grandchildren Catherine, Olivia, Chloe, Nicholas, Matthew, Adriana, and Agustin; and his great-grandchildren Austin and Makena.

Rafael earned a scholarship in mechanical engineering and studied at Pennsylvania State University, where his eldest children were born. His work, and an appetite for travel and exploration he shared with Jean, took his growing family to live overseas, to return to his roots in Venezuela, and to many parts of the United States, before settling in Florida.

Rafael lived for his family and friends and remained closely connected to many people he befriended throughout his life. He celebrated all birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and other big events joyously over the years, and was among the first to reach out to those who were struggling. A lifelong lover of music, he played in a steel band in Trinidad in his youth and was learning to read music during his retirement. His family recalls how he often danced his way into a room and the many road trips to which his drumming and singing remain the most memorable parts of the soundtrack.

In lieu of flowers, Rafael’s family respectfully requests any donations to be directed to the Miami Music Project, to help amplify the positive power and joys of music education and performance.

Miami Music Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that uses music as an instrument for social transformation, empowering children to acquire values and achieve their full potential, positively affecting their society through the study and performance of music. Miami Music Project’s vision is to create opportunity and access through music for those most in need, improve the quality of life for children today, and ultimately transform their lives, the lives of their families, and their communities.

Emerging as a model for music education programs nationally, Miami Music Project offers free-of-charge, after-school programming to all students with no barriers to entry, regardless of race or economic status. As of today, Miami Music Project has reached over 30,000 children and youth across Miami-Dade County, becoming one of the largest socially transformative music initiatives in the U.S. Miami Music Project’s programming is inspired by the El Sistema phenomenon – a new model for social change and a visionary global movement that transforms the lives of children through music. Designed as an intensive, tuition-free, after-school community music program, Miami Music Project provides hundreds of children from Greater Miami’s communities with the most untapped potential with a fully integrated music curriculum, high-quality musical training, and opportunities for leadership and social development. The program builds the transferable practical skills needed to improve academic motivation, classroom success, and social preparedness, and creates new avenues of cultural awareness. Ultimately, by enriching the lives of individual children and creating a network of stand-alone orchestras, the program seeks to create social change within the communities served. More at: miamimusicproject.org

In Memory of Rafael Hernandez, 1938 - 2023

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Miami Music Project.