Alfredo Cuadra Alcantara

My dad or papang was a strong, hardworking, and compassionate man. He taught me the value of hard work and dedication through his continuous commitment to supporting our family.

A memorable moment that represents his character of kindness and encouragement took place when I was in my early twenties. I told him I was moving to the Bay Area to find a job and be closer to my girlfriend back then; now my wife. I recall him seating me down with my mom, and without any hesitation, he offered his support and gave me his blessing because he already knew about my plan. Knowing Dad knows best, he knew I was going to struggle and potentially fail. Regardless of my outcome and repercussions, he did not discourage me but rather encouraged me to execute my plan because he had faith in my decision makings whether irrational, foolish, or not.

Another memorable moment with him was in my childhood. One day he came home carrying a chess set and presented it to me as a gift for being a good boy. I recall looking at him with disappointment because I was expecting something more fun to play with and break it later. Eventually, that chess set was one of the greatest gifts my dad ever gave me. For odd reasons, all the chess games I had with him were so much fun because I won them all even though all my piece moves were illegal. It was all good for him because he got to spend quality time with me.

Throughout his career, my dad was always looking for better work opportunities from retail store to Johnson & Johnson, and finally spent about 20 years at Medtronic – a Medical Devices Company as a manufacturing technician.

His work ethic was unmatched and he took pride in what he did because the products he manufactured such as heart pacemakers and stents helped save peoples’ lives globally. Ironically, these devices were embedded into his body and extended his life for another 18 years.

When my dad retired and went to live overseas in the Philippines with my mom, he dedicated about 3-4 months annually traveling back to the U.S. to spend time with his grandsons and care for them. His contribution to my young family was unconditional love, especially in those years when my work schedules were so heavy and required weekly out-of-state and international travel. So, any relief he gave to my wife at home balancing a full-time job and the boys was like precious gold.

I am forever grateful for the love my father bestowed upon me and the lessons he taught me will remain with me throughout my life. As we say goodbye, I wish to thank you all for joining us tonight to honor his memory and celebrate the remarkable life he had.

I love you papang and we will miss you!