Passed away in the early morning hours of January 27, 2021. He was preceded in death by his wife of 61+ years, Mary "Jean" Alvernaz. He was a devoted husband, and loving father. He is survived by sons Roderick Alvernaz, and Mario Alvernaz (Jackie), and daughters Anna Alvernaz-Abbott, and Gina Amaral (Joe). And also 9 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren, all of whom he loved dearly. He is also survived by his sister Maria Odilia Alvernaz dos Santos Vieira (Aristides -deceased) in Portugal, and 14 nieces and nephews both here in the States and in Portugal. Rod was born, in his maternal grandparents' home in Cedros, on the Portuguese Island of Faial, Azores, to Francisco Pereira Alvernaz (later, known in California as Frank P. Alvernaz), and Ana Maria Leal de Costa, who died from leukemia when Rod was 22 months old, and Odilia about 5 years old. When Rod was 7, and Odilia 10, years old their father left them in the able care of two maiden aunts; one, Maria, his Godmother, and the other Rosa, and then emigrated to the States to provide a better life for his young family. Rod started his schooling in Cedros before joining his sister at the Liceu Naciaonal da Horta in Horta, Faial. Odilia went on to study in Lisbon, Portugal, and Rod later join her and his Godmother in Lisbon, enrolling at the Liceu Passos Manuel. Rod arrived in the States in 1954, just before his 18th birthday, staying with family on the East Coast for a couple months -and experiencing snow for the first time. He did not like it. He was soon on the last leg of his trip, to join his father in San Jose, CA. While Rod's tested equivalency would have placed him as a sophomore in college he was not completely fluent in English. So, beginning that March, Rod attended James Lick High School, as a Junior, for the remainder of that school year. He was assigned English 2, English 3, and English for the Foreign Born. He also took U.S. History. And, because he had 5 years of French in Portugal, he was placed in Advanced French, and later even stepping in for his teacher. Rod says teaching French to English speakers also increased his own knowledge of the English language. Rod would graduate from James Lick the following year. Rod had two part-time jobs, and then a third, all while still at James Lick. His first job was at Stanley Jewelers, and a second at the Hillview Golf Course. The third -a seasonal- job, and one that paid the most, was at the California Packing Corporation, a cannery that packaged DeL Monte products. The money from that job would pay for his tuition and books at Heald College. After graduating from James Lick he joined the California Army National Guard serving 3 years, then 1 year, and then another 1 year. The Army Reserve picked him up for the remainder of his enlistment -saving him from the next enlistment of an added 8 years with the California Army National Guard. His introduction to a couple Portuguese benevolent societies was through his father, and Rod loved the events, especially with those his own age. In 1957 Rod was hired as an accountant with United National Life Society (now Luso-American Financial), while also working on the merger of two Portuguese organizations; The Benevolent Society of California (San Francisco, 1868), and the Portuguese Continental Union of the State of California (Oakland, 1917). It was at one of the annual conventions of the (then) United National Life Society that Rod met the love of his life, Jean. At the time of Jean's passing they had been married, as Rod (ever the accountant) liked to say "61 years, 5 months, and 8 days". Rod's career with the company, spanned 42 years, beginning as a part-time bookkeeper and accountant. He was Assistant Secretary-Treasurer (1962 - 1981), Secretary-Treasurer (1981 - 1983), Vice President and Secretary (1983 - 1988), Executive Vice President & CEO (1988 - to retirement in 1999). He was then honored with the life-time position of Executive Vice President and CEO Emeritus. Rod was a founding member of the Luso-American Education Foundation, serving in various capacities including Chairman of the Board. He was President of the League of Portuguese Fraternal Benefit Societies, and served as Co-Chair of the Committee of Portuguese-Americans for the Restoration of the Statue of Liberty. Rod was a member of many professional organizations, including the Commonwealth Club of California. He found time to join the Castro Valley Lions Breakfast and, later in life, the Knights of Columbus, council #7467. He was President of the California Fraternal Congress of America, and then a Director of the National Fraternal Congress of American. Rod was a member and co-founder of the Portuguese-American Leadership Council of the United States (PALCUS), headquartered in Washington, DC. He also served as a committee member of the annual celebration of "Dia de Portugal", and later as its Co-Chair from 1976-1995. He served on the Committee of the Annual Sam Pelicas Memorial Golf Classic (A very successful fundraising event for the Luso-American Education Foundation). He loved playing golf. Rod was the recipient of many awards and honors, including being decorated by the Portuguese Government. The last honor given him was from the Luso-American Board of Directors when they presented him with the first, and inaugural, "Rodrigo Alvernaz Fraternal Award of Merit". Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, February 26, at 1:00 pm, Cathedral of Christ the Light, 2121 Harrison Street, Oakland, Ca 94612. Five dollar underground parking for those attending the Alvernaz funeral. The Cathedral has limited those attending to 325. Masks and social distancing will be required. Interment will be private in the Cathedral's Mausoleum immediately following the Mass. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Luso-American Education Foundation https://www.luso-american.org/laef, or the PALCUS National Scholarship Program http://www.palcus.org/ways-to-give-1
