Jorge Alvarado

1938 - 2018

Jorge A. Alvarado, MD

Oct 3, 1938 - May 16, 2018

The world has lost one of the great contributors to medicine at the forefront of glaucoma research on May 16, 2018. Dr. Jorge A. Alvarado died peacefully surrounded by his loving family at UCSF Medical Center, where he was a professor of ophthalmology.
Dr. Alvarado was born in Costa Rica in 1938. He moved to The United States, without speaking English, to attend UC Berkeley. It was there, as a junior, that he met his wife and the love of his life, Jeanie Alvarado. The two were married for 56 years and have three daughters together.
Dr. Alvarado was a highly skilled clinician and surgeon, a gifted laboratory scientist and respected teacher. Dr. Alvarado wrote his first textbook, Histology of The Human Eye, as a medical student at UCSF with his mentor Dr. Michael Hogan. This atlas was a seminal text, and continues to be a definitive work. Dr. Alvarado continued his residency and fellowship at UCSF and he joined the faculty there in the Department of Ophthalmology in 1977, where he had a distinguished career and continued his groundbreaking research in the causes and treatment of glaucoma. Throughout his long and prolific career, he worked tirelessly to care for his beloved patients, to conquer challenging cases, to teach the next generation and to further glaucoma research in both the clinic and the laboratory. He has received numerous awards and honors and has published and lectured extensively, nationally and internationally. As a result, Jorge and Jeanie enjoyed a lifetime of travels together throughout the world.
Despite his professional success, the most important role of his life was being Poppy to his four adoring granddaughters. The serious contributor to science and research was happiest making his granddaughters giggle and squeal at his silly antics, especially on the dance floor at family celebrations. They have many memories of trips to the park or clandestine walks to buy ice cream. He loved food and he loved his family but he loved being able to combine the two around a rambunctious table set with a fantastic culinary creation by Jeanie, as often as possible.
Jorge was a brilliant man but was also a warm, funny and selfless man. He had a true zeal for life, both at the university and with his family. His legacy will continue not only in his many contributions to glaucoma, but also in the way he inspired so many as mentor, teacher, colleague and friend. We were honored to be his daughters and wife and are deeply saddened by the giant hole he has left in our hearts, but will thrive on the many happy memories he left with us all.
Jorge was predeceased by his sister, Nora, his father and mother Lucas and Maria and his two brothers Lucas and Ismael. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Jeanie Alvarado, his three adoring daughters Maria Alvarado, PhD of Georgia, Julie Alvarado Rosenfeld of California and Amy Alvarado of California, his two sons-in-law, Kenneth Rosenfeld, MD and Richard Alvarado, MD and his heartbroken granddaughters, who will miss their Poppy forever, Phoebe Rosenfeld, Honor Rosenfeld, Bella Alvarado and Georgia Alvarado all of California. He is also survived by his brother Luis Alberto Alvarado of Costa Rica as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family will host a celebration of life gathering at The Marin Art and Garden Center in the Livermore Pavilion, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Ross, CA 94957 on June 23, 2018 from 1pm until 4pm. In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations to That Man May See, 10 Koret Way, Box 0352, San Francisco, CA 94143 (415) 476-4016 http://thatmanmaysee.org