Obituary of Lawrence Alvarez, Jr.
Lawrence Alvarez, 86, passed away at his home in Joliet, Illinois on Sunday, December 3, 2018, surrounded by his wife of 62 years, Toyoko, and his two daughters, Joan and Ana. He was a beloved and devoted husband, father, family member, friend and educator.
Lawrence, a 55 year resident of Joliet, was born to Juana and Lorenzo Alvarez in 1932 in Fort Lupton, Colorado, and was raised in Gilcrest, Colorado. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. While deployed in Japan, he met and married his wife, Toyoko, in 1956.
Lawrence taught Spanish and French at Joliet Township West High School (1965 to 1992), Joliet Junior College and Joliet Township Central High School, as well as Kimball County and Scottsbluff High Schools in western Nebraska. He was a Fulbright Scholar and spent the summer of 1966 studying in Spain. He holds a Masters Degree from the University of Colorado Boulder and an Undergraduate Degree from the University of Northern Colorado.
Lawrence was a life long fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team. He also played for the Gilcrest Aztecs of the Rocky Mountain Baseball League in summer 1946. He enjoyed spending family time traveling internationally, dining at his favorite Chicago restaurants, and attending pop and classical concerts, Broadway musicals and Cirque du Soleil performances
Lawrence was preceded in death by his son, Michael; his parents, Lorenzo and Juana; a brother, Albert; and two sisters, Rebecca and Severa. He is survived by his wife, Toyoko; his daughters, Joan and Ana; his brothers, Tomas, Manuel, and Felix; his sisters, Isabel, Rosario, Juanita and Ester Veronica; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his extended family in Joliet: the Franco family (Victor, Gabriela Reyes, Camila and Daniela) and the Torres family (Abel, Alyssa, Trista, Abel Jr. and Logan).
The family would like to thank the medical professionals and staff who worked with Lawrence throughout his life in Joliet, including his teams at Presence St. Joseph Hospital (including Outpatient and In Home Services), Alden Estates of Shorewood and Joliet Area Community Hospice.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in his memory to the Joliet Area Community Hospice.
Visitation for Lawrence Alvarez will be held Thursday, December 6, 2018, from 3:00 until time of Funeral Service at 7:00 p.m., at the Fred C. Dames Funeral Home, 3200 Black at Essington Rds., Joliet, Illinois. Interment will be held in spring 2019 at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, Colorado. For more information, please call (815) 741-5500 or visit his Memorial Tribute at www.fredcdames.com
