He was born December 4, 1945, in San Antonio shortly after his parents returned from Washington, DC and Boston, where his father, also a San Antonio native, concluded his specialty medical training in Internal Medicine. Dr. Alvis, Jr., is survived by his wife of 50 years, Luci Alvis, and daughter, Angelica Anne Alvis. He is preceded in death by his father, Dr. Milton Alvis, Sr.; mother, Verna Ford Alvis; and sister, Thornlee Alvis.
Milton met Luci while playing in the San Antonio Youth Symphony; she, violin and he, French horn (first chair, of course!). After graduating pre-med from UT Austin in 1969, he and Luci married, and he joined the US Air Force and became a T-38 supersonic jet pilot. Still wanting to become a physician, he returned to school in Austin, ultimately graduating with a Medical Degree from UT Health Science Center, San Antonio in 1980. He completed a Residency in Internal Medicine and a Cardiology Fellowship at Tulane Medical School, New Orleans. They returned to San Antonio to open a cardiology solo private practice, an increasing rarity, even way back in 1988. He and Luci worked together for 32 years until his death.
Many patients expressed the sentiment that as a physician, his motto could have been "Service Above Self". He was passionate about empowering people who came to him to take charge of their own health and life. Nothing made him happier than when he saw someone's health improve with the advice he had given, because they had put into action changes, using the tools he recommended. He loved to teach, and loved to learn. He had a brilliant mind that retained an incredible amount of anything he read.
He lived his life trying to empower other people, so that they would be more self-aware and might take charge of their own life and health.
He strongly believed in the unlimited capabilities that come with freedom, fully aware of our drawbacks (greed, self-centered, myopic, attention seeking, etc.) but going beyond those faults. On many occasions he spoke of John 14:12, which advised that "these things and more you can do in My name." He counseled that we (he and his patients alike) are given much and can accomplish much; we are not helpless or hopeless.
We are especially grateful, and want to thank our Medical Assistants of many years, Minh Trinh and Andy Narvaez, who made Milton's life and the lives of the many people who came to our office more healthy, productive and enjoyable.
Love of medicine, teaching patients to live healthy lives and flying do not alone describe the man. Milton was many things to many people: physician, husband, father, teacher, friend, entrepreneur, engineer, dreamer, craftsman, genius (he hated this one!), obsessed with doing the right thing, and not afraid of challenging the conventional.
His parents said his middle name was "Modify". He never met an object that couldn't be modified and improved. This made an unusual and very long project list, and a very unique "workshop".
One friend described his propensity to fix things: he hated the thought of turning over any project to someone else. He made sure he had the necessary supplies, and he had the skills, but timelines sometimes could be a challenge. Someone else said that with enough time and the right parts and tools, he could have fixed anything.
A memorial service will be held at Sunset Funeral Home on Friday, February 28, 2020 at 1:00 pm with interment, with military honors, to follow at Sunset Memorial Park. A reception will follow the interment back at Sunset Funeral Home.
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