Alex Vergara
1928-2017
He loved the view of the ocean from his home in Pacifica, his wife’s fabled cooking, old cars in need of repair, shooting the breeze with a vast circle of friends. And El Salvador, the land of his birth. But mostly he loved his family—fiercely, completely, and with great joy, in an easy, uncomplicated kind of way.
His name was Alex Vergara, and on Monday, November 20, 2017, at the age of 89, he bid farewell to all things earthly and surrendered to Parkinson’s and dementia. With tender care from his wife and children (lovingly managed by his daughter, Ana), he met the daily challenges of disease with the same resolve that marked the day he arrived in San Francisco in the early ‘60s —a young man determined to learn English, go to advanced auto mechanic school, and make a new life in the United States.
Alex had a little help along the way, an uncle and cousins with whom he established a bond that would last forever. But the journey that made him the man he was until the day he died began when he met Alfa, the woman who would become the love of his life. Together, during 56 wonderful years, they raised an extraordinary family that included in their sphere of love a large assemblage of relatives, an enviable group of friends, and anyone in need of help or support who happened to cross their path. A job as a mechanic at De Soto Cab in San Francisco for 28 years until his retirement in 1994 anchored his dream of a home by the ocean and a family centered in close-knit, typically Latin American values. A moral compass at the ready, Alex achieved his dream.
Alex Vergara leaves Alfa and six children—Ross, Armando, Maria, Ana, Alex Jr., and Sandra (and their respective spouses). He leaves 16 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and one great-great granddaughter. He had five brothers, Mario and Rene (El Salvador), Armando and Oscar (southern California), and Roberto (deceased). He leaves a number of nieces and nephews as part of that awesome assemblage of relatives.
The legacy of such a simple man is perhaps best described in simple terms: a devoted husband, a proud and loving father, a true friend. Vaya con Dios, Alex Vergara—and take all the love that is in our hearts.
(Funeral services will be Tuesday, November 28 at 11 am at Good Shepherd Catholic Church, 901 Oceana Blvd., Pacifica. Internment and reception will follow at Skylawn Cemetery on Highway 92.)