Brijido "Al" Alcala Alvarado, 74, was surrounded by his family when he peacefully went home to be with the Lord on February 21, 2016 at Cedar Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Brijido was born on October 8, 1941 in Sweetwater, Texas to Miguel and Gregoria Alvarado.

Brijido grew up in Sweetwater, Texas and graduated from Sweetwater High. After high school, he enlisted into the United States Marine Corps stationed at Camp Pendleton as a range instructor to new recruits preparing to go to Vietnam. His commitment to the Marine Corps never wavered and he remained active with the Marine Corps League in Santa Barbara serving as Commandant in 2013 and 2014.

As a young Marine stationed at Point Arguello Marine Barracks in Lompoc, California, Brijido met his loving wife Lucia Alvarado (Navarro). Together they raised three children: Cecilia, Zarith, and Gregory. He loved spending time with his family as family was Brijido's everything. He would do anything for his wife, children and grandchildren. He instilled this importance of family to his children and clearly exemplified this to all that knew him.

Brijido was a very hard worker spending the majority of his years working with the United States Postal Service. He was initially a carrier then customer service representative and eventually promoted to Postmaster in Lompoc, a position he held until retirement in 1992. Following his retirement from the Postal Service, Brijido felt compelled to continue working. He accepted a position with Santa Maria Juvenile Hall and was later promoted to a probation officer for Santa Barbara County.

Brijido is survived by his wife Lucia of 52 years; children Cecilia, Zarith, and Gregory Alvarado; daughter-in-law Kimberly Alvarado; granddaughters Dakota, Dannika, and Dominique Harrison, and Grace and Ellie Alvarado; brother John Alvarado and sisters Anndora Flores, Olivia Daniels, Christina Hernandez, and Rebecca Medina. Brijido was preceded in his passing by his mother and father Gregoria and Miguel and brother Abelardo Alvarado.

A special thank you to Dr. Robert Vescio from Cedar Sinai Samuel Oschin Cancer Center who gave Brijido's family nine additional years with him as he bravely battled Multiple Myeloma since Christmas 2006.

Visitation will be Friday, March 4th, from 4 to 8 pm followed by a Rosary at 6 pm at Starbuck- Lind Mortuary in Lompoc, California. Funeral services will be held at the La Purisima Catholic Church in Lompoc on Saturday March 5th at 9 am followed by a burial service at the Lompoc Cemetery.