Anita L. (Susie) Alvarado Anita L. Alvarado, affectionately

Jan. 11—Anita L. (Susie) Alvarado Anita L. Alvarado, affectionately called Susie by her family, friends and colleagues, passed away peacefully at Hospice by the Sea in Boca Raton, FL on November 16, 2024. She was born in Washington, DC on November 18, 1931 to Alfonso and Beatrice (Raphael) Alvarado. She trained first as a nurse at Jackson Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Miami, Florida, graduating in 1952. While employed at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. (1956-66) she enrolled as an anthropology major at the American University (1960-66). Upon completing the B.A., she enrolled in the graduate program in Anthropology at the University of Arizona, while also employed as a nurse at the Tucson Medical Center from 1966-68. Her Ph.D. dissertation was completed in 1974 and titled: Catalan Holy Week ceremonies, Catholic ideology and culture change in the Spanish Colonial Empire. In 1972, she joined the faculty of the Department of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, where she was promoted to Associate Professor in 1979. Her research included biocultural anthropology and medical anthropology of women and ethnic groups. Dr. Alvarado’s great joy was teaching, as well as advising doctoral candidates. She retired as emerita faculty in 1996 and moved to Boca Raton, FL in 2021. A devoted daughter, Susie cared for her mother Beatrice (Nanna) after her father’s death in 1950 until her mother’s passing in 1978. Susie was an animal lover and an enthusiastic breeder of show quality German Shepherds. Throughout the years, she adopted many dog and cat rescues. She was dedicated to the Rule of St. Benedict as a lay oblate, and performed duties at her local Catholic church in Albuquerque as a eucharistic minister to the sick and homebound. In addition to her parents, Susie was predeceased by her brother, Col. Ricardo R. Alvarado, Sr., USAF, Ret. and her nephew, Ricardo R. Alvarado, Jr. She is survived by sister-in-law Rita (Logue) Alvarado as well as nieces and a nephew: Donna M. Alvarado, Bonnie (Chris) Fay, Rita (Kip) Akbasli Edwards. Susan E. Alvarado, Peter J. Alvarado (Donna), and Christina (Kieran) Shanahan, as well as many great-nieces and great-nephews. A private memorial service for family was held at St. Joan of Arc Church in Boca Raton, FL with interment at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Washington, DC. In lieu of flowers, remembrance gifts may be sent to the Anita L. (Susie) Alvarado Memorial Endowment (610848) at the University of New Mexico Foundation, 700 Lomas Blvd NE, Two Woodward Center, Albuquerque, NM 87102.