Alexander "Alex" Balderrama

January 18, 1951-April 2, 2011

The son of Maria Padilla & Alejandro Balderrama, beloved father of Forest Machala, Alex passed suddenly of a massive heart attack on 4/2/11. He is survived by sister Esther Cisneros, her husband Tory, nephews Tory, Jr., Jeremy & Nicholas and niece Nichole of Alhambra, CA. Alex was a fine visual/graphic artist, AEA actor (stage, file, TV), playwright, drummer, tiler, plumber and carpenter. He was working for the good folks at Dunn Lumber at the time of his death.

Alex was born in Los Angeles, attended Alhambra High School, graduated class of 1969, lettered in Varsity football (All City). He attended Immaculate Heart College where he majored in Performing Arts for two years. His free style visual art pieces won several awards in California. He apprenticed @ Ahmanson Music Center for two years & worked at the Mark Taper before moving to Seattle in '79. He was part of the original Group Theatre Company and founding member of Seattle Teatro Latino. He toured for several years in 'Los Minnecanos' with Mixed Blood Theatre Co, Minneapolis, MN.

His greatest love was his son and the adventures they shared from paintball to potato canons, hiking, camping, drawing, going to movies. Alex was a teddy bear of a man, cheerful, generous, and kind. Alex will be forever missed by his family and his large circle of friends.