Margarita Cecelia Alvarez, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, died in Santa Monica on March 26 from complications following a stroke. She was 84. She was known to her six grandchildren and one great grandchild as “Nanie,” to her four children as “Mom” and to all who knew her as one of the most loving persons they had ever met. A fourth-generation Californian, Margarita was born in San Jose on November 22, 1921. She grew up with her sister and three brothers on a family ranch near the Quick Silver Mines. She attended school in a one-room schoolhouse. Alvarez was excellent at the jitterbug and met her husband during World War II at Friday and Saturday dances in San Jose. They married and moved to Los Angeles, where she started raising her family. She was active in PTA. Although she never went to college, education was important to her and she inspired all four of her children to attend. She took her love for education and inspired students at UCLA where she was an Administrative Assistant at UCLA’s Department of Spanish and Portuguese for more than 20 years. Alvarez was proud to have helped the professors and students who still value her past encouragement and guidance; some even dedicated their theses to her. She leaves behind her children, Linda Alvarez (husband Leo Perez) of Pacific Palisades, Raymond Alvarez (wife Virginia) of North Hills, Marina Aronoff (husband Steven) of Pacific Palisades, and Sylvia Thatcher (husband John) of Newbury Park; grandchildren John and Jeff Thatcher, Mark and Marisa Aronoff, Daniel and Christine Alvarez, and Michael Alvarez (deceased); great-grandchild Sydney Thatcher; and sister Mary Jane David. She will be greatly missed by all her family and friends. Vigil is tomorrow, March 31, from 5 to 8 p.m., and rosary at 7:30 p.m. at Gates Kingsley & Gates Chapel in Santa Monica. A funeral mass will be celebrated by Monsignor Liam Kidney at 11 a.m. Saturday at Corpus Christi Church. Interment immediately follows at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City.
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