Hector Alvarez Suarez

Dad (our Papi) passed away on September 26th, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah at the age of 93. He went peacefully at home with his Wife (Anna) and his children by his side. He was born to Manuel Llerena Suarez and Isidora Alvarez Palma on July 22nd in Arequipa-Tingo, Peru.

Hector grew up with the very modest of means with his 4 brothers and 2 sisters. His imagination which he always said was “greater than his knowledge”, always pushed him to inquire how things worked; he was very “Inquisitive”. Hector soared from the poor streets of Tingo to realize that his intellect, wit, and education could afford him a way to succeed and help his family, especially his mother.

Hector went to Independence “Independencia” high school in Arequipa. A scholarship afforded him the chance to go to a better school in Lima, where he finished at Guadalupe high. Prior to finishing, he was able to obtain a scholarship to the main University there.

From 1946-1951 he completed his Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from San Marcos University in Lima, Peru. He maintained scholarships given by the university each year to the top students. While working his degree at San Marcos, in 1949 he met his first wife Carmen Wong while she was working as a primary school teacher in Lima. They lived in Lima where they had 7 children together.

From 1951 to 1957 he started his career working as a mining engineer in the Floatation and Grinding processes for Peruvian and U.S. mining operations “High in the Andes”. Hector first decided to come to the United States in 1957 after he applied and was accepted to the University of Utah to obtain his Metallurgical Engineering degree. A good friend working with him at that time Harlin Walker “an American” from Utah said he should pursue his education further in the U.S. because he was a good engineer who spoke English well. He worked for the U.S. Operated mine in Peru (Marcona Mining) from 1953 to 1957. Marcona had regularly sent mining ships to the U.S. up through the Panama Canal. Hector was able to secure passage to the U.S. on their ship, the San Juan Trader. In 1957 he left Marcona mining and started his maiden voyage to the port destination of Mobile, Alabama.

Hector arrived in Mobile with few bags and little money; his destination was Salt Lake City, however the greyhound bus did not go direct, he had to go to San Francisco, then to Reno and finally to Salt Lake; “a 3,000 mile bus ride!”. Upon arrival the U of U administration set him up in a facility where he lived and completed his studies across from the old Ute football stadium. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 1958. After completion, his goal was to come back to Utah to work and make his residence. He sent his papers to the Peruvian embassy in San Francisco, and then returned back to Peru to his family.

In 1958 Hector returned to the U.S. the second time by air to San Francisco to retrieve his work Visa and made his way back to Utah. It was then in late 1958 he applied for a silver refining job with Kennecott Copper Mine. He lived in Magna close to work, and after his 1st year he was able to obtain his residency. Soon after securing his residence, in 1960 He brought his wife and 7 children to live in Utah for a better life. They had 3 more children together while they both worked and lived in Salt Lake City.

Hector later secured his citizenship of the United States working as a professional engineer in Mining and the U.S. Defense Industry. From 1958-1966 he worked for Utah Resin Co., Kennecott Copper Mine, and the Utah Highway Road Commission. In 1966 he went to work for Hill Air Force Base in the Solid Rocket Propellants Lab (Missile Division), in charge of Electroplating. He was recognized as an “outstanding” engineer, where he developed a Novel “New Electroless Nickle Process”. The process was an improved and more efficient plating method to enhance the corrosion resistance of the ejector seats for fighter pilots during the Vietnam War. The ejection seat rail mechanism could get stuck due to accelerated corrosion from the humid saline environment of the sea. He worked at “The Base” 17 years.

Never wanting to stop, he worked as an independent contractor in mining with his good friends Milton Christensen and Blaine Harper throughout the 80’s. He ran large machinery and help build Trommel operations for gold recovery. He also consulted for Nevada mining prospectors in (Elko, Winnemucca, Carlin, Reno, and Searchlight outside of Las Vegas).

During his career He sent money back to his family and to his mother. He loved his mother dearly; he was her “Wacchurita”, a “twice a year” visiting bird that would return from the high in Andes, to bring her food, gifts, and money. Over the years he helped many of his family members come to the U.S. for a better life and opportunity.

Aside from his career and education, Hector’s other passion in life was his love for soccer. He started the first Utah soccer team for Central and South America nationals in 1962. His team the “Incas” would play the Americans, Germans, and other leagues. It was a miniature world cup happening weekly. He was very competitive, and an athlete who continued playing soccer well into his 70’s before suffering a hip injury. He played soccer for “70 years!”. However, this injury did not prevent him from spending countless hours at the Senior Center on 10th east near the U, where he would still dance with the “Old Ladies”.

Hector loved the U of U “The University”, where he spent more than half his life. He would take his children and grandchildren to go the Olympic dive pool and play in the long halls under the basketball stadium, and to the soccer fields. We cannot forget the days spent at the Fieldhouse gymnasium learning tennis and watching him run loops upstairs. His second home was the Department of Metallurgy and the Kennecott building. Always remaining active, he continued his education taking “Audit” courses, traversing the vast campus of the U.

Due to his continuous love for his education, at the age of 79 He completed his Master’s degree in Metallurgical Engineering in 2006 from the U of U. A last main accomplishment he always wanted to achieve. He also had a great interest and love for rock minerals, and geological formations. While talking graduate classes in geology, he was able to go on a bucket-list trip with his department and classmates on a gold expedition to Spain in 2000.

Hector met his wife Ann in 1970 and they were together for 50 years, their “Golden Anniversary”. They spent many good years together traveling, visiting Peru and that famous 1st entry port for him, the Panama Canal. Hector and Ann had 2 Children, Danny and Scotty. Hector loved his Anna dearly.

And Finally, Hector “The Patriarch” had a deep love for all his family and grandchildren, enjoying countless family dinner parties to tell his epic journey of stories and experiences. He was a character that had no rival, he was incredibly strong until the very end, always wanting to keep moving. His mind never stopped. He had no cognitive decline or memory loss. His brain was donated to promote science, and to hopefully help understand memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease, and Dementia.

As dad would say… “Nothing is impossible!” … and “Nothing is over!”

And for his father…“HURRA A SUS PUESTOS, AGUA A LA CABALLADA, PREPARADOS DEL NORTE AL SUR, LISTOS PARA LA GUERRA”

Hector is survived by his wife Ann (86); and his Sons and Daughters; Carmen Jr., Rose, Isabel, Khanni, Javier, Marlene, Janet, Suzie, Henry, Daniel, and Scott Suarez; and his youngest Brother Daniel Suarez Álvarez (87).

He is preceded in death by his by his eldest son Hector J. Suarez who also passed in 2020, and Brother Octavio Suarez (2019), Victor (Brother), Renee (Brother), Isidora (Mother), Manuel (Father), sister Yolanda, and Sister Alicia….

In “exponential!” expansion; Grandpa Hector has 43 Grandchildren, 48 Great-Grandchildren, and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren. 93 in total, one for all his years.

Graveside Funeral Services to be held on Saturday October 10th at 11:30 am at:

Mount Olivet Cemetery

1342 East 5th South,

Salt Lake City, Utah 84102

In lieu of flowers, the family requests charitable contributions in memory of Hector Suarez be made to the Brain Support Network, www.brainsupportnetwork.org, PO Box 7264, Menlo Park, CA 94026