The late architect Lennox Hernandez has been remembered as a principled teacher who motivated some of his students to do their best.
The 71-year-old, who grew up in Pomeroon-Supenaam before relocating to Georgetown for schooling, had impacted the lives of many with whom he came into contact.
A daughter, Andrea Ally, described her father as “a loving and caring dad.”
The father of three and husband had always held family in a very private part of his life.
His son died in an accident in 2005 and in March of 2019, he lost his wife of 50 years to cancer.
On May 27, Hernandez also lost his battle to cancer.
He was the former Chairman of the Board of the National Trust of Guyana for a number of years and a former Lecturer at the University of Guyana.
He taught for over 25 years at the University of Guyana, and in his better days, enjoyed teaching and sharing his knowledge about architecture.
Ally said that one of her father’s hobbies was photography and she recalled that as a little girl she would stay up late, watching and helping him develop his black and white photographs in his small home studio.
Hernandez was also seen as very helpful by some of his former students, who said he motivated them.
A former university student from his architecture class of 2019, Blossom Perreira, told this newspaper that Hernandez was a fair lecturer who showed no bias towards his students.
She said he always encouraged his students to work hard and reminded them that “Hard work is always rewarded.”
Perreira explained that she was motivated to be the best student she could become. “I had a particular liking for the History of Architecture. He and I were alike in that way,” she said, as she further related how he pushed her to meet her expectations and to become successful in life and in her architectural career.
“He was a decent lecturer, who rewarded dedication,” Perreira said.
Another past student of Hernandez, Noel August, described his former lecturer as a zealous and knowledgeable man.
He said, Hernandez was very passionate about the history of architecture, “he was very ardent about knowing your history, especially knowing the history of Guyana’s architecture.”
August recounted Hernandez being one of the persons on the forefront of efforts to preserve the City Hall building, attending meetings and lobbying for it not to be torn down, but rather repaired.
He shared, “I recall my first exam. I wasn’t doing so well, but after speaking with sir, I began to see what he saw in me, this pushed me to do better in all my classes,” he said.
August emphasised, “Today I am thankful, for the ability he saw in me, to make me the person I am today.”
Hernandez was recently cremated.
