Alexandrina "Alex" Esparza

Alexandrina “Alex” Esparza, 85, of San Jose, passed away peacefully on April 4, 2026, with her family by her side. She was born on October 6, 1940, in Orange, California, to Elias and Consuelo Espinoza.

She graduated from Orange High School in 1958. She earned bachelor’s degrees in Spanish, German, and Anthropology from San Jose State University. She later earned master’s degrees in Spanish and Anthropology from San Jose State University, as well as a master’s degree in Anthropology from Universidad de las Américas Puebla.

In 1968, she married the late Tino Esparza. She is survived by her daughter, Maya Esparza, of San Jose; her beloved sister, Yolanda Heller, of Los Angeles; and her brother, Charlie Espinoza, of Corona.

Alex devoted her life to education and mentorship, teaching Spanish for 40 years at San Jose City College. There, she co-founded the Latino Education Association (LEA) with Carmen Castellano and was elected by the faculty to serve for many years as Academic Senate President. She was widely respected as a tireless advocate for faculty, staff, and students throughout her career.

She often said she chose to teach at San Jose City College because community colleges open doors for nontraditional and first-generation students. She believed those opportunities must be matched by guidance, advocacy, and mentorship, and she devoted her career to helping students succeed, persist, and achieve their dreams.

Alex had a lifelong passion for anthropology and archaeology and was part of the excavation team at Hovenweep National Monument in Utah in 1973 and 1974. The following year, she moved to Cholula, Puebla, to pursue Mesoamerican studies at Universidad de las Américas Puebla.

Deeply committed to equity and community, Alex was an active leader in the Chicano movement in San Jose and later became a founding board member of Santa Maria Urban Ministry, serving the Washington neighborhood. She believed everyone had something to give—whether time, talent, or treasure.

A lifelong music lover and prolific reader, one of her favorite literary quotes was, “The game is afoot!” from the Sherlock Holmes stories, a phrase she enjoyed deploying whenever the moment called for it.

Per Alex’s wishes, no services will be held. In lieu of flowers or other tributes, donations may be made to Opera San Jose, the Humane Society of Silicon Valley, or Planned Parenthood.