Thomas Sidney Alvarez

Thomas Sidney Alvarez passed away peacefully on December 2, 2023 in New Braunfels, Texas. He was 76 years young.

Tom was born in Phoenix, Arizona on August 26, 1947 at Saint Monica’s Hospital. At the age of 5, he was adopted by Mary Anne Pavlich and Sidney Christopher Alvarez of Santa Monica, California and moved to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas when he was 8. While at Boys Ranch, he excelled at athletics, lettering in football, basketball and track and was twice awarded Athlete of the Year. As a senior, Tom graduated as valedictorian, was selected as a delegate to Boys State, and received the State of Texas Young Texan award.

After leaving Boys Ranch, Tom studied at Texas A&M University and West Texas A&M where he graduated with his bachelor’s degree in biology and was a member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity. He spent his career working at Pantex in various roles eventually retiring as Operations Manager.

Throughout his adulthood, Tom continued to follow his athletic pursuits by playing in various softball leagues, spending as much time as possible on the golf course and coaching youth sports. He loved dogs and spent many years breeding and showing German Shepherds. He eventually discovered genealogy and was able to identify his birth parents, Mary Grace Atwell and Frederick Feldmeyer, and five sisters – Linda Wood, Janice McLeod, Debbie Karle, Pamala Kuhn and Barbara Thomas. Meeting and getting to know them provided him much joy.

Beyond all of Tom’s accomplishments, the most important thing in his life was his family. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Toni Alvarez and his children Tracey Alvarez-Nixon, Sean Alvarez (Christy), Marty Boeka (MaryJane) and Kim Boeka-Harrison (Kris). He will also be fondly remembered by his 9 grandchildren, Madison Grosjean (Bryan), Whitnie Boeka, Lindzie Tollis (Bryan), Zack Boeka, Caleb Harrison, Jacob Nixon, Max Boeka (Kodi), Alex Boeka (Anam), Peyton Alvarez, 8 great grandchildren and his dog Bella. He will be deeply missed by all.

Tom will be remembered as a humble man who was considerate, patient and kind. He was a tried-and-true fan of the Dallas Cowboys, Dr. Pepper, a medium bucket of golf balls, Corgis, photography, a really good breakfast with anyone, George Strait, Dos Equis and above all, his family. Memorial donations may be made to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Amarillo, Texas at www.calfarley.org in honor of Tom’s legacy.