Freddy A. Alvarez

Freddy was born in Havana, Cuba to Olga (“Nena”) and Jacobo Alvarez on September 27, 1938. They moved to the small town of Cardenas, on the north coast of the island, when in he was teenager. Life for the family in the 1950s was the Cuban version of the TV show “Happy Days.” They owned and operated a retail store in Cardenas and enjoyed all that the tropical paradise had to offer – warm weather, spectacular beaches, wonderful food, friends, nightlife, and a close-knit extended family. Freddy loved the ocean, sometimes swimming far from shore, floating on his back (and taking a nap), before swimming back. After Castro seized power, and confiscated the family business, Freddy made the difficult decision to leave Cuba. To do so, the Cuban government required him to work for it as a laborer in the sugar cane fields for several years. In December 1969, the family (Freddy, Fred, Alicia, Nena, Jacobo, and sister Daisy) moved to Chicago, where they had family.

Within days of arriving in Chicago, he began providing for his family, getting a job doing room service at Michigan Avenue hotel. He worked his way up to a catering manager position at the hotel and made sure that his family was always cared for. His work schedule allowed for many afternoons in the bleachers with his son watching the Cubs. Family vacations to Florida reminded him of the good times spent at Varadero Beach in Cuba—although he said that Florida beaches could not compare to Cuba. Freddy was a proud naturalized American citizen. While he spoke fondly of Cuba, he was adamant that he had no desire to return to Cuba given the freedoms and opportunities the United States provided.

Freddy loved family, especially his grandchildren, Brian and Kat. Always the family man, not long before taking his last breath, he blew a kiss to his dear wife while holding his son’s hand. He is survived by Alicia, son Fred, daughter in law Lynn, and grandchildren Brian and Katherine.

A memorial visitation will take place from 10:00am until time of the Memorial Service at 11:00am at on Thursday, June 13, 2024 at Glueckert Funeral Home, 1520 N. Arlington Heights Rd. Arlington Heights, IL 60004. Interment will take place privately at a later date at Rosehill Cemetery in Chicago, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Cubs Charities, use link below to donate.

Funeral Information and condolences can be given at www.GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.