Alex G. Sarad Jr.

1926 - 2010

Alex G. Sarad, Jr. 1926 - 2010 Alex G. Sarad, Jr., retired oil and gas man and citrus farmer, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 22, at home in Bakersfield, of complications from lung cancer. He was 84 years old and enjoyed a rich life filled with love, affection and adventure, and passions for travel, entertaining and water sports. A memorial service will be held at 2:30 p.m., on Thursday, Dec. 30, at the Intimate Theatre, 2030 19th Street. Alex's ashes will be interred at the Bakersfield National Cemetery near Bear Mountain. Donations in Alex's memory may be made to Bethany Services (1600 E. Truxtun, Bakersfield 93305; www.bakhc.com), which operates the Bakersfield Homeless Shelter. Alex was born in Roswell, New Mexico on September 23, 1926, the first of three children. His Greek immigrant father, Alex Sarad, Sr. and mother, Blanch moved their family to Bakersfield in 1936, where Alex graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1944. Alex joined the US Army Aircorp in 1944. While stationed as a young airman in Central Illinois, he met his first wife, Jane Hardinger, whom he married in September 1945. After Alex completed his military service in 1947 the couple moved to Bakersfield where they lived for most of their 50 years of married life and raised their four sons. Like his brother, Mickey Sarad and sister, Alys Watt who predeceased him, Alex was a self-made business man. He spent most of his professional life in the oil and gas industry, first with Tidewater Oil Company and its successors, and then with Belridge Oil Company, before opening an independent oil and gas brokerage in Bakersfield. Alex and Jane also owned and operated a citrus and olive ranch north of Bakersfield from 1966 until their retirement in the mid-1990s. Alex spent several years a consultant advising Middle Eastern and North African clients on arid land farming techniques used in California. Alex was proud of serving on the boards of civic and private organizations, including several water districts, the Bakersfield Chapter of the Horseless Carriage Club of America, and several boy scouting organizations. In honor of his service as President of the Lost Hills Water District, the organization named their facility the Alex G. Sarad Pumping Plant. Upon retiring Alex and Jane moved first to Long Beach, California and then to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico where they lived aboard their sailboat to pursue Alex's life-long passion for sailing. They lived there until Jane passed away in 1996 shortly after celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary. Following Jane's death Alex returned to Puerto Vallarta. There he met his second wife, Rose Marie, who also lost her first spouse in 1996. Alex and Rose, a kindred spirit and fellow sailor, lived in Puerto Vallarta until moving back to Bakersfield several years ago. In their nearly 14 happy years together, Alex and Rose enjoyed entertaining, celebrating life, family and friends, and reminiscing about their first spouses. In Alex's year-long, courageous battle with cancer he was a source of inspiration to his loved ones, never complaining, and always uplifting their spirits with his wry sense of humor and unending commitment to living life to its fullest. In addition to his wife, Rose Marie, and four sons, John, Michael and Matthew, all of Bakersfield, and Nicolai of New York City, Alex is survived by eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and his faithful canine companion, Sir Harry Potter. www.bakersfield.com/obits