Joseph Alvarez, 77, of Edison, N.J., died at home on Friday, Feb. 11, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. Services will be held Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011 at 9:15 a.m. at Costello-Runyon Funeral Home, 568 Middlesex Ave. (RT. 27), Metuchen, N.J. (costello-runyon.com), followed by a 10 a.m. funeral service at the First Presbyterian Church of Metuchen, 270 Woodbridge Ave., Metuchen, N.J. Interment is at Hillside Cemetery, Metuchen. Visitation is Monday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Born in New Brunswick, N.J. Joseph resided in Edison for 53 years. He was a graduate of Rider University and received two master's degrees from Rutgers University. He was employed by Old Bridge Township, N.J., for 36 years. Joe began his career as a teacher but after a few short years began his role as principal. For the greater part of his administrative career, he served as principal of Carl Sandburg Middle School and then Jonas Salk Middle School, retiring in 1996. After retirement, Joe served as a student teacher supervisor for Rutgers University through 2010. Joe, along with his late wife, Ann, took great pride in creating a wonderfully loving family. He enjoyed camping, traveling and playing tennis with his close friends and spent a lifetime building beautiful memories with his family. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 53 years, Ann M. Alvarez, and a son-in-law, Butch Cordes. Surviving are his two sons and their spouses, Joseph A. and Jo Ann, their children, Joseph, Nicholas and Teresa of Brick, N.J., and Robert R. and Pennie, their children, Robert R. Jr. and Elizabeth of Ohio; three daughters, Eileen Francobandiero, her children, JC and Mikey of Edison; Cynthia A. Cordes, her children, Kristi and Patrick of Edison, and Sharon L. Parr, her children, Mayci and Christopher of Edison, and his brother, Manuel Alvarez and his wife, Ann, of East Brunswick, N.J. Donations may be made to National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation, 3962 S. Delaware St., Englewood, Colo. 80110.
Published in Star-Ledger on February 13, 2011