VALLE-GARAY, Alfonso Ernesto; born in Managua, Nicaragua, September 26, 1937; passed away peacefully in Miami, Florida, August 21, 2024; son of the late Pastor and Rosa (nee Garay) Valle-Quintero; preceded in death by brothers Pastor Valle-Garay (d. January 9, 2023) and Fernando Valle-Garay (d. February 9, 2023); survived by devoted wife Barbara Jean Valle-Garay (nee Schwenk), brother Jaime Valle-Garay (m. Nena) and sister Rosamaria Catuscelli-Valle (nee Valle-Garay, m. Daniel); father of Carmen (m. Nadir), Suzanne (m. Karlheinz), Alfred, Alfonso Jr. (m. Sherry), Nadine (m. Melvin), David (m. Joanna) and Carla; grandchildren Ariana, Benjamin, Marcus, Victor, Fernando, Chaun’tel, Katellena, Benito, and Lydia; great-grandchildren Mykell, Isaac, Ethan, Kalea, Roselee, Annaliese, Leianna; and hundreds of nephews, nieces, cousins, in-laws, and family friends who were family to all of us through him. His circle was vast and the door to his home was always open. If you knew him, your relationship with him was unique and personal to you and him in life and ever-after. He took great personal pride in the successes of everyone he knew and felt the sting of everyone’s setbacks as if they were his own.

Educated under the Christian Brothers Colegio Pedogogico La Salle de Managua, Nicaragua; graduated in 1955 from Lowell High School, San Francisco, California.

Served in the United States Army 1955-1958 (63rd Infantry Division) and the United States Army Reserve 1958 -1962. Trained and posted at various installations: Ft. Ord, California; Ft. Hunter-Liggett, California; Ft. Sam Houston, Texas; Storck Barracks, Illesheim, Germany; The Presidio (Reserves), San Francisco, California.

A man of the people, his work life crossed the paths of many from all walks of life. Worked on the ranch, Nicaragua; picked peaches, Santa Clara, California; tossed pizzas, New York City; trained as a translator at the United Nations, New York City; was a medical translator on the hospital ship U.S.S. Hope ported in San Francisco, California and Corinto, Nicaragua; was a bonded teller at the Bank of America in San Francisco, California; worked at Jay’s Furniture store in San Francisco, California; drove ambulance in San Francisco, California; was the supplies and equipment manager at Joy Manufacturing, South San Francisco, California; managed the Hotel Leavenworth in San Francisco’s Tenderloin; provided translation services for the Superior Court of California, Los Angeles, California. Writer, editor, poet for “El Amanecer Latino” and “Prisma” among other publications and resisted the Sandinistas in Nicaragua with every ounce of his spirit, writing tirelessly to his congressmen, senators, newspaper editors, and the President. Realtor, First American Title, San Francisco, California. Soccer Coach and Commissioner, AYSO, Daly City Sky Lions, Daly City, California. Travel Agent, Worldwide Discount Travel in Miami, Florida.

Loved baseball and football and soccer especially the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco 49ers and his support went back to New York with the Giants and to Kezar Stadium with the Niners. Adopted his Marlins and Dolphins too when he retired to Miami, Florida in 1995.

Convivial friend, contentious debater, staunch patriot, political activist, genealogist for the Valle family, historian, believer in God and counsel for all. His wisdom was freely shared and he lived a “do as I say, not as I do” example of life and moved to the beat of his own drum. Truly, he lived life on his own terms. Life was an arduous journey at times but his heart was soft and sweet beneath his toughness and he cared deeply for everyone in his life. The last thing he wanted his kids to know was that he loved them all. They simply do not make them like him anymore.

Many, many thanks are extended to the Veterans Administration, Humana, Bristol Hospice and several people that provided care for him in his final months especially his daughters Carmen, Carla, and Nadine; his nephew Emilio; Barbara, his devoted wife of 57 years; his sister Rosamaria and brother-in-law Daniel; Dr. Alvaro Valle; Father Nick; and the countless friends and family who visited and called him. He was never alone. 

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