Obituary of Captain Alvin A. Sarra, Jr.

Captain Alvin A. Sarra, Jr., 82, passed away in Venice, Florida, on September 7, 2023. He was born in Washington, D.C., on January 16, 1941, to Alvin A. Sarra, Sr., and Lorretta (Byam) Sarra. He graduated from Montgomery Blair High School in 1959. Alvin enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in July 1961 and served for 35 years until his retirement as a captain in 1996. He married his wife, RoseMarie Rocker, in June 1978. They relocated to North Port, Florida, in 2014 from Meggett, South Carolina.

Captain Sarra was blessed to have many roles as a husband, father, grandfather, brother, son, and friend. Alvin spent his childhood in Washington, District of Columbia, the city that sparked his interest in history. He loved the Lord first and his family second, and he delighted in playing jokes on the unsuspecting. The care and upkeep of his woodland property offered him a great deal of delight, and one of the many things that brought him joy was nurturing young oak saplings. In addition, Alvin was continually working on a wide array of tasks and projects. As an avid reader, he routinely engrossed himself in diverse publications. Al, as he was affectionately known to those who loved him, was a true philanthropist throughout his career and lifetime. He gave to his church, his family, many international charities around the world, and to people who we may never know. Throughout his lifetime, Captain Sarra was an active member of the church community where he enthusiastically devoted his time and energy to serving both God and his country.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Lorretta Sarra; his wife, Margaret Jeanne Anders Sarra; his stepmother, Genevieve H. Sarra; and his brother, Douglas B. Sarra.

In addition to his wife, RoseMarie Sarra, Alvin is also survived by his children, Alvin A. Sarra III, Deborah J. Plant (Maurice), Robin R. Stewart (Kenneth), David Reid (Rachel), and John M. Sarra (Christine), ten grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, his sister, Patricia A. Sarra, and a host of friends and extended family members.

A visitation will be held at the Farley Funeral Home on Monday, September 25, 2023, from 4 to 6 o'clock in the evening. The funeral home is located at 5900 S. Biscayne Drive in North Port, Florida 34287. On Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 10:00 a.m., a service will be conducted at New Hope Community Church, which is located at 5600 S. Biscayne Drive in North Port, Florida 34287. This will be followed by a military service, which will take place at Sarasota National Cemetery, which is located at 9810 State Road 72 in Sarasota, Florida 34241.

Please visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com if you would like to share your condolences with the family.
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