South Tucson Fire Chief Reynaldo Tapia Alvarez received the last call and the firefighter’s ringing of the bell Monday at the station that he lead for the last two years.
Alvarez, 52, died April 7 at Banner-University Medical Center Tucson of complications of kidney cancer, said Capt. Andy Luna, a South Tucson Fire Department spokesman.
The ceremony in Alvarez’s honor was held after a funeral Mass at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church.
His casket was carried by a special fire truck of the Last Alarm Foundation in a procession from the church at 602 W. Ajo Way to the firehouse at 1601 S. Sixth Avenue.
A flag that draped his casket was presented to his widow, Suzie Alvarez, who was accompanied by their children and grandchildren, said Luna.
Alvarez, a Tucson native, graduated from Tucson High Magnet School in 1982.
He started working for the fire department in 1992, and during his 24-years there he climbed rank starting as a firefigher, then engineer, captain, battalion chief and chief, Luna said.
He was in charge of 35 firefighters, including reserves.
