Roger Alvarez, 88, of Valrico, Florida, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, July 25, 2026. He is survived by his wife, Rafaelina (Guerra) Alvarez, his children, Maria (Alvarez) Mikesell of Valrico, Florida, Roger (Irene) Alvarez of Bradenton, Florida, Marilyn Alvarez of Tampa, Florida, his grandchildren Alexa (Timothy) Hoffmeister of Brandon, Florida, Ciara (Trey) Pinion of Tampa, Florida, Derek Thompson of Riverview, Vanessa Alvarez of Tampa, his great-grandchildren, Timothy (Trey) Hoffmeister of Brandon, and Maria Hoffmeister of Brandon, his Brothers, Roberto (Olga) Alvarez of Tennesee, and Carlos (Laura) Alvarez of Riverview, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father, Manolo Alvarez, his mother, Rosa Alvarez, His brothers Odilio (Sonia) Alvarez, Felix Alvarez, Manolito Alvarez, and Son-in-law, Stephen Mikesell.
Roger was born on September 19, 1937 in Batabano, Cuba. In 1965, he came to the United States on the Freedom Flights, leaving behind the only home he had ever known in search of freedom and opportunity for his family and for generations to come. Through determination, hard work, and perseverance, he built a life from the ground up, becoming a successful entrepreneur with several businesses and investing in properties along the way.
One of his greatest joys was creating a little piece of Cuba here in the United States. On his property, he built a small farm filled with cows, horses, chickens, and ducks—a reminder of the life he loved and the country he would always carry in his heart.
Roger’s greatest accomplishment, however, was not his businesses or his success—it was his family. He was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren, never missing an opportunity to brag about their accomplishments to anyone who would listen. His love for people was undeniable. A true social butterfly, he could strike up a conversation with anyone and never met a stranger. Whether he was sharing stories, making someone laugh, or offering advice, he had a way of making everyone feel like a friend.
In his final years, nothing brought him greater joy than watching his grandchildren grow into remarkable adults and welcoming his two great-grandchildren into the family. Seeing the family he worked so hard to build continue to grow filled him with immense pride. He often said he had lived a full life, and knowing he had the chance to witness generations of his family thrive made him feel truly complete.
A visitation for Roger will be held Sunday, August 2, 2026 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Hillsboro Memorial Funeral Home, 2323 West Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511. A funeral service will occur Sunday, August 2, 2026 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, 2323 West Brandon Blvd, Brandon, FL 33511 with a graveside service to follow.
