Sergio P. Zayas Alvarado

Sergio P. Zayas Alvarado, aged 98 passed away from natural causes at the West Altamonte Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Winter Springs, Florida, on July 30, 2024. Hailing from Barranquitas, Puerto Rico, he was the son of Pedro Zayas and Beatrice Alvarado. He enlisted in the National Guard before being called up to active duty to serve in the Korean War. Electing to remain in the service, he was stationed in Germany and Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he was called to serve his country as part of the first major deployment of US troops to Vietnam of which he served two tours. Retiring from the army after a career of 24 years, Sergio elected to move to Winter Springs, Florida where he worked for ten years at the Maxi Mart in the Orlando Naval Training Center. Finally retiring, he enjoyed the last years of his life relaxing with family and friends. Sergio was married to Amparo Rodriguez for 70 years. He was the father of seven children Brunilda (Soler), Sergio Jr., Janet (Galindo), Jerry, Richard, Roy, and Arleen. He had fifteen grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Amparo and son Richard. Sergio was a highly decorated infantry and artillery combat veteran. A soldier’s soldier. Proud of his service to his country. A man who never smoked when everyone else did. A veteran who battled combat related PTSD and yet one day woke up and quit drinking and never drank again. His proudest accomplishment was becoming a US Army Drill Sergeant. Affectionally known as “Smoke” for his many years serving in the artillery as a Chief of Firing Battery or the more common artillery mantra of “Chief of Smoke” he epitomized the character of a senior non-commissioned officer. His soldiers adored him, and his leaders respected him. Six of his children followed his footsteps in joining the armed services of the United States, three in the US Marine Corps and three in the US Army. He loved his music, especially the old Puerto Rican ballads. He loved nature. He had a photographic memory and could recite the names of all the presidents of the United States, their spouses, every state and capital in the union to include the state bird. He had a keen recollection of his childhood and family history. He enjoyed embellishing his stories about the army and his youth on the farm in Puerto Rico. No one really knew how he learned English, but he did and spoke it very well. He would make friends at the drop of a hat yet would not back down to anyone. He was a tough guy with a kind heart. He loved his siblings. In later years, he blessed his children by handing out cash for he believed in the old axiom “In God we trust, but everything else cash.” He was the “Don” or the patriarch of the family and will be sorely missed.