Serving the community since 1922
Feb. 14, 1972 – Feb. 7, 2022
Fernando Alaniz Ochoa "Fernie" -- Coach Alaniz -- was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico on Feb. 14, 1972. He resided in Wasco and taught high school and coached the varsity boys' basketball team at McFarland High School. He passed away on Feb. 7, 2020 alone in his classroom while on his prep period. He was getting everything ready for the upcoming basketball tournament at Wasco High School, his alma mater.
Fernando is the son of Sara Ochoa Vento, but was raised by his grandparents/adoptive parents Sara Ruiz Ochoa and Jorge Alaniz Marin. Fernando has many brothers and sisters including Maria del Refugio Alaniz de Velez, Yolanda Alaniz de Diaz, Maria Lilia Alaniz de Contreras, Maria de Jesus Alaniz de Ochoa, Ana Maria Alaniz de Castillo, Jose Cruz Alaniz – "Butch," Carlos Ochoa, Miguel Ochoa, Guillemo Ochoa, Pedro Ochoa, Alejandra Vento, Yuralva Jimenez, Juan Carlos Vargas and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. His best childhood friends were Desmond Johnson, Randall Lawrence and Fernando Ocampo.
Fernando attended Wasco schools and graduated from Wasco Union High School in 1991. While in junior high at Thomas Jefferson and at Wasco High School, he was very active in FFA and athletics. Fernando was very active with the football team and basketball team. When on both teams, he was part of both SSL divisions, especially in his senior year. After graduation, he went to Bakersfield College but left a year later to pursue football and basketball at McPherson College in McPherson, Kan.
He majored in elementary education and later transferred to Cal State Bakersfield. Fernando was a student athlete at CSUB and was a student assistant coach as part of the Roadrunners basketball team. While there, he changed his major to criminal justice and received a BA in criminal justice, with a minor in Spanish. He made the Dean's List several times. While at CSUB, Fernando was a member of Delta Zeta Tau.
In 2021, Fernando earned his master's degree in computer science technology, maintaining a 3.95 GPA and earning honor's status by making the Dean's List as well. Throughout college, he was a member of the Southern Poverty Law Center; while teaching at McFarland High, he was a member of the CTA.
Fernando was employed by the Kern County Sheriff's Office from 2010 to 2018 and worked in the Technology Division. He worked tirelessly on many projects, providing assistance to deputies and various offices throughout Kern County.
Fernando met his college sweetheart, Christine Marie Hauschildt, while attending McPherson College in 1992. They dated from August 1992 until they married in July of 1996. Fernando and Christine married in Wasco and started a family.
Their oldest daughter, Sara Alaniz -- born Aug. 9, 1996 -- resides in Los Angeles. Their second-oldest child, Samantha Alaniz – born Feb. 28,1999 -- lives in Wasco and their youngest child, Fernando – born Jan. 14, 2003 -- attends college at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in Edwardsville, Ill.
On Friday, March 4, a Rosary will be held at 12:30 p.m. at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m., followed by his burial service at the Wasco Cemetery.
[BEGIN ITAL]Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.[END ITAL]
--Isaiah 41:10
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