Al R Sorensen

1936 - 2025

Al Sorensen spent a lifetime in the water business. His expertise helped shape such major organizations as the Sweetwater Authority, the Chula Vista Yacht Club, the Coronado Maritime Foundation, and the California American Water Authority. He was also very involved in the Coronado Cays Homeowners' Association.
Alfred Raymond Sorensen was born on June 28, 1936, in Salinas, CA. He met his wife, Donna Jenkins, in 1987. She had been a small business owner in Chula Vista since 1970. They were married 37 years. Al died Sept. 28, 2025, at the age of 89 from squamous cell carcinoma – a battle he had fought bravely since November of last year.
Al was a founding member of Chula Vista Yacht Club. He became their second Commodore in 1990. His wife Donna was Commodore at CVYC in 1997. Al was also a director from the Kingston Village Homeowners Association for two years at the Coronado Cays, where they lived for 33 years.
After working in the cities of Freemont and Monterey as an engineer, designing sub-divisions and housing developments, Al joined the California-American Water Company in Monterey (1968).
Al's reputation as someone who could get things done, work with a variety of personalities, and overcome obstacles in the process did not go unnoticed. Once, on a fortuitous airplane flight, he met a gentleman from the American Water Works who, after getting to know Al, convinced him to join the company, eventually becoming Division Director (Risk and Materials Manager) of the Pacific Division of the American Water Company. In that capacity, he was involved with water companies operated by American Water Works in 32 states.
In 1977, National City's Mayor Kile Morgan, then Chairman of Sweetwater Authority, requested that Al be hired as Operations Manager when the public took over the investor-owned water company.
He spent 25 years under contract with the Sweetwater Authority Board of Directors.
Al retired as General Manager from the Sweetwater Authority on Jan. 1, 2003. This marked the culmination of 35 years of leadership positions in the water utility profession.
Al is survived by his wife Donna of Coronado and two sons from a prior marriage. He is also survived by his granddaughter, and grandson by choice.
A Celebration of Life will take place at the Coronado Cays Yacht Club, Sunday, November 16 at 2:30 p.m. Reservations are not necessary, but appreciated.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made, "In Memory of Al Sorensen," to the San Diego Anglers' Foundation Junior Program (sandiegoanglersfoundaton.org); or FriendsOfRollo, a foundation that teaches juniors to fish (captainrollos.org/donate).