Communiqué from CNRA regarding the passing of Fernando Alvarez

Communiqué from CNRA regarding the passing of Fernando Alvarez

Don Fernando Gimenez Alvarez
October 15, 1922 – February 16, 2013

CNRA and the Cal North State Referee Committee would like to extend its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Fernando Alvarez who passed away on February 16, 2013.  Mr. Alvarez was integral part of the Cal North soccer referee community and held the position of State Director of Assessment for many years.  However, that is only the beginning of what Mr. Alvarez meant to the referees of Cal North throughout his many years here in Northern California.

While in Cal North, the state reaped the benefits of not only his wisdom, humanity and experience it was also able to cultivate his many talents and contacts to have and exchange program with other countries where referees were exchanged for new experiences.  He was instrumental in having the first All-American group of officials do a World Cup qualifier in Seoul, South Korea in 1997 in an important match between two bitter rivals, South Korea and Japan.  As a member of the US Soccer referee committee he was great supporter of the talented group of Cal North referees and assistant referees who made it to the FIFA list.  This list includes Brian Hall, Tim Weyland, Ricardo Valenzuela, Kari Seitz and Jennifer Bennett as FIFA referees and Levon Baladjanian, Scott Weyland, Chris Strickland and Veronica Perez as FIFA assistant referees.  No state during recent memory could boast of such a group of distinguished referees who represented their state and country with such honor.

With all the accolades and tributes, Fernando stayed with his core principles of helping any and all referees.  His involvement with the San Francisco Cup brought many speakers from around the world for top notch seminars and on-field training which gave any level of referee the insight into what it takes to improve their performances.  As an assessor he embodied what a mentor really is with his soft spoken words of analysis and encouragement.

CNRA and the Cal North SRC will never forget Mr. Alvarez’s contributions to our state and his memory will carry us to do even greater things for our referees.  Once again our sincere condolences and our unending appreciation to all that he did for us.

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