Alberto R. Sanchez

Alberto R. Sanchez was a modest man, quiet and observant in his ways. He was trustworthy and traditional in his approach to his life and in his relationships. He was loving, caring, and disciplined and earned the respect of all who knew him.

He was born on August 17, 1951 to the late Gloria and Catalino Sanchez in Santiago, a city in the Philippines where he was reared to be hard-working, loyal, and dependable. These were all traits that would serve him well throughout his life. Alberto was the second eldest of seven children - four brothers and two sisters.

He attended Far East University before enlisting in the Philippines military. In 1974, he enlisted in the United States Air Force Active Duty where he was stationed at a base in Germany. He met the love of his life and wife of 40 years, Erlinda Sanchez. In 1980, he and Erlinda welcomed their son Todd Joseph into the world. Family was of the utmost importance to Alberto. He and his wife grew old together and created lasting memories by spending quality time, especially Sunday dinners. The two enjoyed attending Catholic mass together and performing the rosary, hosting and attending family gatherings, and playing bingo for fun. One of their most memorable moments was the homebirth of their first granddaughter Taylor at their home in 2009, followed by her baptism at St. Anthony’s Baptist Church in 2011. Another fond memorable experience they shared together was from one of their bingo excursions that resulted in a brand new Mercedes Benz, which they were able to select and order directly from the factory in Germany!

Alberto was a proud U.S. Air Force veteran. During his time in the Air Force, he completed tours throughout Europe, Korea, and Iraq. Through his hard work and dedication, he achieved the rank of Master Sergeant. After 24 years of dedicated service, he retired from the U.S. Air Force and continued to work for 20 more years to his second retirement from the Federal United States Post Office. His time and experience in both careers brought forth long-lasting friendships that remained throughout the years.

During his retirement, Alberto enjoyed spending time with his granddaughter Taylor, completing the workbooks she would put together for him. He also looked forward to continuing the bingo tradition long after his beloved wife passed away in March of 2015. He was a dedicated Lakers fan as well and never missed a game, also was a big fan of the kids on his son's non-profit basketball team. If there was one thing Alberto was very proud of, it was his son. He was proud of all of his son's life accomplishments and made sure to let everyone know.

Alberto R. Sanchez passed away at 70 years of age on January 19, 2022 in Sacramento, CA. He is survived by his children, Todd and Sharifa; his grandchildren Taylor and AJ, his four brothers and two sisters.

Commitment is a key word that describes the life of Alberto. He was committed to living the life of a good Catholic man. He was committed to the traditional values that he upheld his entire life. He committed himself to being a hard worker and expected the same effort in return from those around him. Most of all, he was committed to those he knew and loved. His memory will live on through all those who had the pleasure of crossing paths with him.