Alice Angelina Perez

Alice Angelina Perez passed away on August 16, 2025, at the age of 93. She was born in Tampa, Florida on December 28, 1931, to Ceferino Lopez and Graciela Villavisanis Lopez. Her Spanish father and her Cuban mother had immigrated to Ybor City in 1902 with the growth of the cigar industry. Alice started school at V.M. Ybor Elementary, later attended George Washington Junior High, and graduated from Hillsborough High School in 1950. She met Ovidio Perez, a World War II veteran who had recently returned from serving in the Army (Infantry and Air Force), and they married on September 8, 1951. Alice worked for several years in secretarial jobs, but was dissatisfied with her employment. Ovie encouraged her to further her education at the University of Tampa, and she was inspired by her sisters, Grace and Dalia, to pursue a teaching career. Even though she gave birth to two children during her college years, she managed to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education in 1960. She interned at Alexander Elementary and was hired there as a teacher. She remained at the same school for thirty-two years. During that time she taught each grade, served as the school librarian, and worked with bilingual children until she retired from teaching in 1992.

Alice and Ovie lived in Ybor City in the same home for forty years. In the early days, they enjoyed family road trips in their station wagon, camping, boating, staying in Indian Rocks Beach, and transporting their children, Greg and Lorrie, to their numerous activities. Once their children were grown, they travelled the world together—from Egypt to Hawaii and everywhere in between. In 1994, they moved to Temple Terrace to be closer to their granddaughter, Angela, and doted on her daily while her parents were at work. Once Angela was in school, Alice returned to teaching as a substitute teacher in Temple Terrace schools.

After Ovie’s death in 2010, Alice spent her time exercising at the Lightfoot Center and gardening. She appreciated her kind neighbors and the companionship of her dog, Lizzie. She enjoyed the love and support of her family, especially her sisters, who were always her best friends.

Throughout her long life, Alice witnessed the Great Depression, World War II, the admission of two states to the Union, the Cuban Missile Crisis, men reaching the moon, the advent of computers and cell phones, the tragedy of 9/11, and a global pandemic. She saw the Tampa area grow from a population of 200,000 to over three million, and was always amazed by the number of cars on the road. She greatly missed having a telephone book.

Alice was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Ovidio G. Perez; her brother-in-law, Jesus Perez; her sisters-in-law, Gertrud Perez and Marie Perez; and her brother-in-law, Nilo Pelaez. She is survived by her son, Gregory Perez; her daughter, Lorrie Nertney (John); her granddaughter, Angela; her sister, Grace Pelaez, and her children, Robert Pelaez, M.D., Neal Pelaez, and Alicia Pelaez; her sister, Dalia Kirk (Jim), and their children, Anita Kellogg (Richard), James Kirk (Stephanie), Charles Kirk (Margaret), and their families; her niece, Irene Norton, and her daughters, Lori Tappan (Chris) and Lisa Wysong, and their children.

A graveside service for Alice will be held for family at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida where Alice will be reunited with Ovie.