Alexander Oliva

Alexander Oliva passed on March 19, 2026, at the age of 20; born August 11, 2005, in Hialeah, Florida, he resided in Oakland, California. He is survived by his mother, Aida Basterrechea (Hector Perez), and his brothers, Leonardo Mesa and Ismael Oliva, and was preceded in death by his father, Emilio Ulices Oliva.

Velorio / Visitation will be held at Caballero Rivero Sunset, 7355 SW 117 Ave., Miami, Florida 33183, on April 9, 2026, from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and on April 10, 2026, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am.

Burial / Entierro will take place at Caballero Rivero Dade South, 14200 SW 117 Avenue, Miami, Florida 33186, on April 10, 2026, at 11:30 am.

Ismael's Eulogy:

Alex was my role model. His light is what inspired me to become the man I am today. Ever since we were little Alex had never left my side, he couldn’t anyways we were sleeping in the same room along with my brother Leonardo. When we were little babies Alex developed a nickname for me, Cucu, that was his first words and insult towards me with many more to come.

He was always the type of person to show tough love. My brotherhood with Alex has taught me many things, the most was patience. Out of the three of us me and Alex fought the most, always butting heads and fighting. There were a lot of injuries for sure, none too drastic, but we always made up. I remember him pinching my cheeks and yelling my name because that's just how much I always annoyed him.

But through that annoyance, he loved me and it showed. That’s the duty of the youngest brother anyways, to annoy and bother. The way he showed how he loved is unique, he was all about tough love. He rarely said I love you and instead would wrestle with me, bother me while I was playing my games, and woke me up at 6 in the morning to go out running. Our brotherhood really began to stand out during our high school years, that's where we bonded the most.

During our high school years, Alex had helped me out through a lot, he was like my mentor. Giving me advice, helping me out with whatever, honestly the worst thing I can name about those years was him and Leo always coming into my room to troll me, but honestly we did the same to each other so we’re even now. Alex had a fire in him, a drive, a passion and a resolve like no other. Whatever he wanted to do he would achieve it in any way, shape, or form no matter what it takes. Whether it was to bother me, to achieve his dream, or if it was to get chipotle during deployment. Seriously, he texted me one day how he finally got chipotle and how he really needed it was funny as hell. He showed me that while life doesn't have an objective, you make it have an objective. You thrive to achieve what you want, and enjoy the process.

No matter what it was, he always gave it his all. And he would do it with 100% of his efforts. So as his brother, I say this not with grievance, but with strength, and inspiration. We will honor his name by going through life beyond the limitations of our strength, we will show our gratitude by achieving what we want the most. Because his fire isn’t out, energy cannot be created or destroyed. Instead, his fire burns through all of us, giving us that strength and passion to march forward. We will enjoy every single moment of life for as long as we live. Because he showed me that life isn’t just about money and working, but living to the fullest, and enjoy your time with those around you the most.

Leonardo's Eulogy:

As Alex’s brother I had the honor of spending a lot of the time with him before our road trip to California where I’d drop him off on my final Uber Driver mission.

We had a joke where I was his uber driver because wherever he needed to go, I took him, and before he gained his independence he needed me along the ride a lot.

Every week we drove for 2 hours so he could train alongside others who were preparing to ship out.

I remember he’d run his laps and whenever he saw someone struggling, as he’d passed them by, he’d encourage them to keep going, he’d yell, motivate, sometimes he’d just yell out with no one around him, he wasn’t just helping them out, he was having fun.

To me at the time, I didn’t think much of it, he was clearly enjoying himself and I was happy I could help him out but those memories are just one of hundreds playing in my head all the time, the three of us brothers grew up together very close and I always respected his dreams but you never think much about what it means to someone, to want to do something, until it's meaningful, such as a moment like this. But now those memories of his character during training, was a glimpse of proof that he truly loved what he did. I hope that his other brothers and sisters on Coast Guard Cutter Stratton have as many glimpses of Alex, that they remember how much he loved his job and that they can appreciate the little things as he did. I know their grieving too; and you don’t have to share blood to be someone’s family. From my conversations with his crewmates yesterday I saw that my little brother was still the same deep within, no matter how much he had changed, he was still annoying, still confident, still wanting to be the older brother.

Alex was not perfect, as we grew up, we were in many ways complete opposites, I never got physical with anyone growing up, except with him, we fought, chipped teeth, nosebleeds, but it was over as quick as it started.

Alex was a good person, sometimes with a hot temper, you could never win an argument and he’d always have something to say. His crewmates said things like this to me yesterday, which means that one he didn’t change, two he was still annoying, and three he still had his sense of humor.

I didn’t have to lie to Alex, never. I told him as it was, I think that was the thing I loved the most about my relationship with Alex. I could tell him he was wrong, we never lied to each other, and I don’t think I’ve had a more truthful relationship with anyone. Alex grew up fast the past two years, but he lived a life that many others don’t get too. He traveled the world to places I’ve never been, places I always wanted to go. I tell my mom that traces of him are left everywhere, a string of hair, a nail, all around the world so in a way, he is not just here, but everywhere.

Many random times at night. All the way up until he left, the three of us brothers would hang out at night and talk random stuff, something Alex always told us was that he was here for a good time, not a long time. To be honest, I don’t think this would have been in the list of the first hundred things I’d be doing today, a few weeks ago but yet I am.

To me he is not dead, me and Cucu, and those who cared for him have 2 carry his memory in our own ways, for the rest of our lives whether big or small, and well, me and cucu can continue to say terrible things about him for fun just like we always have, who cares if he haunts us, it's not like he can take us with him.. and if he could, then that means he’s still here with us and I think we could all have peace with that. And to mom I say, you don’t have to worry about us, me and cucu still have Alex, you’ll always have three sons. Because no one can take away the life that we lived together.