coachKidsSports.com

Today isn’t a day to talk about coaching. Rather, I’m honoring one of the innocents who died five years ago merely because they chose to go to work. To see more tributes please see the 2,996 Project.

Anthony Alvarado
Age: 31
Killed at: World Trade Center

A Stroke Strengthened Him

Anthony Alvarado lived for his son. He suffered a stroke when his son was a newborn, and was paralyzed on his right side and lost his memory.
It was as if he were a child again, said his mother, Sonia Irizarry. He could speak Spanish, his first language, but had forgotten English.

Ms. Irizarry nursed her son back to health. "Little by little, he came back," she said. After that, Mr. Alvarado could not take his baby for granted.

As the boy, Anthony Joshua Alvarado, now 10, grew older, his father took him everywhere. They walked to Yankee Stadium, not far from their
apartment in the Bronx, for baseball games. They played dominoes, they went to the movies, to two amusement parks and to the beach. "My son is a good son, a good dad, a good grandson, a good brother, a good friend," Ms. Irizarry said.

Mr. Alvarado, 31, worked for Forte Food Services, in the cafeteria at Cantor Fitzgerald at 1 World Trade Center. He had planned to interview
for another job as a security guard. "He needed more money," his mother said. After all, he had a son to support.

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on October 23, 2001.

MISSING:  Anthony Alvarado
His loved ones last saw Anthony Alvarado, 31, of the Bronx, the night before the attacks. They said he has one son, nine, and worked for Forte Food Services, with Cantor Fitzgerald. They described Alvarado as having a scar on the right side of the head from brain surgery, and strawberry colored birthmarks on his arm, chest, and back.

I met anthony in the summer of 1981 i was sitting on a bench watching a few kids play baseball he was one of the kids he came over to me and introduced himself to me and asked me if i wanted to play ball with them i did and that day was the start of a friendship that’s ireplaceble. we hung out in poe park in the bronx we went to the same schools, played in the same baseball teams, he even went out with my sister. he called my mother titi.  all that im trying to say is that he was agreat friend and there isnt a day i dont think about him yo antman we miss you  and we love you    thank you …..love you ant

*** Posted by manny rodriguez on 2004-09-11 ***

Hello Sonia, It’s almost 4 years now. I try to call you every year to let you know I didn’t forget how great a friend Anthony, Carlos, Odette, and Oscar have been to me. I know Anthony and my brother Mark are in heaven playing domino’s or just reminiscing about kingsbridge. I remember the old days with Anthony and Chino, Ivonne, Annie, and the rest of the great people in our building. I have great memories of Anthony playing softball, stickball and football with the rest of the fella’s. Those were the best times of my life and Anthony will always be a part of that great time. I’m glad people are still showing support. If you get in touch with any of the old friends of Anthony, give them my email at mikeacevedo70@yahoo.com. I would love to reminisce with them. If anyone wants to know about Anthony, you can email me too. Take care Sonia, and tell all the family I said Hi. My mom, Lilly, dad, Jose, also send their regards. bye, MIKE
Mike Acevedo (Bronx, NY ) - September 2, 2005