Firefighter III – FS 112-B
Deceased:
September 12, 2020
Appointed:
12/19/1955
Pensioned:
07/16/2000 – FS 112B
Services:
TBA
Additional Information:
William served in the Navy during WWII on the Midway.
Donations:
IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, PLEASE SEND DONATIONS TO:
Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firefighter’s Fund
PO BOX 41903
Los Angeles, CA 90041
I met Bill Alvarez three years ago when I moved into the mobile home right next to him. For three years every morning Bill had his routines one of which was wiping his car down every morning He loved his car. I have never known such a strong and hardworking man in his 90’s. He regularly did heavy labor in his yard and helped other neighbors in our mobile home park. Bill was not a story teller. He was a modest and honorable man that I learned through long conversations that he was on the first crew of the USS Midway. He never bragged or went on about anything. There is a lot of amazing history to Bills life that I am learning about. Bill was not only a great neighbor but a good friend. He was very supportive and offered great advice during a difficult time in my life. I miss him and I will never forget him. Condolences to his family.
Thanks Desiree! Dad was lucky to have you as friend and neighbor. He admired you so much.
Back in the nineties I was pooled out to the harbor and got bounced around the battalion before ending up at old Boat 2 for the shift. Bill Alvarez met me at the door and showed me where to put my trash and what to do if we got a run. He had over forty years as a fireman, was #4 in seniority on the LAFD and no doubt the hardest working man in the firehouse. He generously spent his time showing me around old 112’s and gave me a history lesson on the harbor and LAFD boats. We ate well…Bill was the cook. We did a tanker inspection. We even had an emergency run…I think it was a reported fuel leak. Bill even showed me the blueprints for new Boat 2 and new 112’s. And, of course we slept in that night. I never did another shift on an LAFD boat and I think I bumped into Bill one other time in my career…probably at EMT recert or something…but I always remember that day on Boat 2. I don’t remember any other names or faces that day…but I remember Bill Alvarez gave me a lesson on how to do it right that I never forgot. Thanks Bill.
Thank you Jim for your thoughtful remembrance of my father Bill. His service with the department was everything to him. And yes, he was a great cook. – Lisa Alvarez
Before I bought my place across the street from Bill Alvarez he was very polite to me and always complimented me in many ways. Like Desiree say’s he never bragged about himself and to find out about all of his accomplishments and contributions to Society just put the Icing on the Cake!
I’m honored to say that Bill and I had a wonderful friendship that will be missed every day but the memories I have of him will live on with me for eternity.
I’m glad to hear about him being the Cook it gives me a Visual that makes me smile. We shared a lot of dishes over the years and he definitely knew how to cook a tasty dish! He had put some green olives in this one dish that only Bill could pull off. I would walk him over hot meals knowing that he would beef them up Bill Style ♥️♥️