Luis Alfredo Wolf

Luis was born in Havana, Cuba on January 16, 1929. He attended El Colegio de Los Escolapios, and La Escuela de Artes y Oficios, in Havana, where he studied civil engineering. He worked as an assistant administrator for a Cuban-American Insurance Company. In 1960, he married the love of his life, Sara Hevia, in Havana. In 1961, Luis and Sara arrived in the United States, seeking political asylum. They would later become US citizens in 1969. After living in Miami for five months, Luis, Sara, and soon to follow, his father-in-law, moved to Raleigh, North Carolina where Luis accepted a job working for the North Carolina Highway Commission as a civil engineer.

In 1965 their daughter Sara (Sarita) was born. In 1968, Luis was offered a job as a design engineer for Duke Power Company (currently Duke Energy.) The family moved to Charlotte in December 1968. Luis worked for Duke Power until his retirement in 1995. In the early 1970s, Luis and Sara began to volunteer for the Catholic Hispanic Center, and published a newsletter called “Comuniquémonos.” Along with several other Latino families, and the Catholic Church, they organized the first Latin American Festival in Charlotte, and the All Nations Festival. This would later become the World 600 Festival in conjunction with Charlotte Motor Speedway. The annual Latin American Festival would continue, in conjunction with Festival in the Park. This would lead to several organizations including the Latin American Women’s Association, the Latin American Coalition, and the Mint Museum of Art, where his wife worked as art librarian and liaison to the Latin American community.

Luis volunteered for many nonprofit organizations, individually and through the Duke Power Retirees Organization. He remained active in the Latin American Community and the Catholic Church. He became a lay minister and provided the sacrament of communion to the sick and to hospital patients. He also volunteered at Our Lady of Guadalupe as administrator and taught financial budget classes to engaged couples.

He remained very active in the Latin American community resulting in numerous awards and recognition for his achievements, accomplishments, commitment and dedication. He was also very supportive in participating in his wife and daughter’s events and activities. Besides spending time with his family and friends, his greatest hobby was photography. He was a member of the Charlotte Camera Club where he served as treasurer. He received various awards for his photography, including a 3M National Award for his photo titled “Ski Time.”

Luis had a very active social life that included gathering with his family and his many, many friends who he considered family. He will be remembered as a man of faith and generosity, gentle smile and his silly sense of humor. Everyone that knew him and met him, immediately bonded with him in such a special way. He was so cute, and will live in our hearts and memories forever.

Luis is survived by his wife of 60 years, Sara of Charlotte; daughter Sara (Sarita) Stevens and husband John of Charlotte; granddaughter Jennifer Isrel, (Tommy) and their daughters Payton and Zoey of Phoenix. He is also survived by his brother Jorge E. Wolf (Lourdes), many nieces and nephews and his many close friends who he considered extended family. He is preceded in death by sister Elsie Jarvis and her husband Don, parents Margarita S. Wolf and Louis A. Wolf and father-in- law Policarpo Hevia.

A funeral Mass to celebrate his life will be scheduled at a later date when it is safe for all to attend.

A private graveside service is planned for his immediate family. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina (www.secondharvestmetrolina.org) or to an organization of your choice.