Alfredo Reichard Acevedo

On August 14, 2024, Alfredo Reichard, 87, passed away at a hospice center in Altamonte Springs, Florida, surrounded by family. 

Reichard, known to his loved ones as Fellín, papi, welo, and tío, was born in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, on October 29, 1936. He grew up with his parents, Ernesto Reichard and Cirila Acevedo, and his siblings, Valerio, Eulogio, Aida, Luis, Rosaura, Lydia, and Raul.

In 1954, after graduating from Escuela Superior José de Diego in Aguadilla, he met his future wife, Carmen Rita Mendez. The young lovers courted for five years. During that time, Reichard served three years in the U.S. military, first in the U.S. Army, for which he was stationed in Hilo, Hawaii, and later as a National Guard back in Puerto Rico. After an honorable discharge, Reichard was reunited with his beloved Mendez. The two wedded on May 17, 1959, in Aguadilla. 

Together, the pair had five children: Edgar Reichard, 64; Maritza Reichard, 62; Carmen Reichard, 60; Lizardo Reichard, 58; and Ruth Reichard, 46. With his kin, Reichard enjoyed baking under the Caribbean sun at Parqué Colón and swimming at Playa Crash Boat. In 1970, the vibrant family moved from their home in Aguadilla to Brooklyn, New York, later settling in Far Rockaway, Queens, where Reichard worked in healthcare patient transportation. For 22 years, the family, along with hundreds of thousands of other Puerto Ricans who had migrated to New York at the time, made a home in the Big Apple. Surrounded by both his and Mendez’s families, Reichard spent much of his time with loved ones. Whether at home caring for his fish and parakeets, driving to Brooklyn to visit Mendez’s relatives while reciting Psalm 121, or fishing and playing softball with his late brothers — Raul and Luis — his kids, and their cousins, were often in tow. 

After raising their children, Reichard and Mendez returned to their cherished archipelago in 1992. For 12 years, they lived amid the lush mountains of Moca, a small municipality in the northwestern region of Puerto Rico. A self-described jíbaro, Reichard adored the relaxed, country island life, often tending to tropical birds, listening to boleros, and reading local newspapers.

In 2004, Reichard — along with his wife, son Edgar, daughter Ruth, and the latter’s young family — made the tough decision to leave his pedacito de paraíso to Orlando, Florida, where he was reunited with two of his children, Carmen and Lizardo, and their respective families. 

Once again, Reichard found himself part of a historic mass Puerto Rican migration, this time amid a warm climate similar to his precious isla. In Orlando, Reichard easily built community, making countless friends at the Spanish-language Pentecostal churches he attended, veteran programs he frequented, Goodwill stores he’d spend hours in fixing and organizing gently used items, and, of course, through his beloved dominoes. 

With the tile-based game, Reichard maintained a sharp mind, slowing his dementia-related cognitive decline. But for Reichard, the game of dominoes was more than mental self-care. It was also a fun recreation, a human connector, and a deeply spiritual practice. He joined Dominoes for Jesus, a ministry-driven dominoes club in East Orlando, where he, along with his friends David and Charlie Avilés, among others, mentored young people, teaching them the game and preaching the gospel. With Dominoes for Jesus, Reichard went on to win many tournaments throughout the state of Florida. 

Reichard is survived by his wife, five children and each of their spouses, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, three great-great grandchildren, three sisters, nieces and nephews, as well as his friends and mentees.