Dr. Juan José Alva

Dr. Juan José Alva, 87, of Durham NC, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2024, at home in the loving embrace of his wife and surrounded by family. He was born on December 15th, 1936, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, to the late Emiliano and María Alva. 

Juan’s immigrant story is the embodiment of the American Dream. His love for his adopted country, his faith, medicine and his family were the pillars of his life. 

From humble beginnings, he dreamed of becoming a doctor. He taught himself English and crossed the border daily to attend high school in El Paso, Texas. Gifted with a brilliant, curious mind and an encyclopedic memory, he graduated at 16 years old and attended University of Texas at El Paso on a scholarship. Just three years later, at age 19, he was the first Mexican to be accepted at St. Louis University Medical School in St. Louis, Missouri. He continued his studies and medical residency at Oklahoma City Hospital and Johns Hopkins. It was while in Oklahoma that he met the love of his life, Elsa, while she was visiting friends from Argentina. This past February they celebrated 61 years of marriage. 

Juan’s medical career took him from Canada to Argentina before settling in Chapel Hill, NC in the late 70s, where he opened a private practice in Durham, NC. Medicine was his vocation and passion, and for 40 years he thrived on making treatment accessible to all, especially the marginalized and uninsured, dedicating office hours to extend free medical care to migrants. He relished teaching his medical students from UNC and Duke, and making rounds at the VA hospital, UNC and Durham Regional as a gastroenterologist. 

He loved his adoptive country and was proud to serve in the Army Reserves. Called to active duty during the Gulf War, he reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Upon retiring he continued serving as a volunteer with the USO in various capacities well into his 80s. 

He was an avid reader in 3 languages: Spanish, English and French. He amassed a library of over 5,000 books on history, religion, art, medicine and the classics. He was an accomplished orator, able to tell stories on end; and he had the best laugh around.

He traveled extensively with his wife throughout the USA, Canada, Central and South America, Europe and the Middle East, and delighted in visiting each city’s cathedrals and miraculous sites. 

He was a Knight of Columbus, as well as a member of the American Legion, the Legion of Mary and the Osler Society chapter in North Carolina. 

Juan was a devout Catholic, and his faith was central to his life. He was ordained as a Carmelite of the Third Order and was devoted to the Virgin Mary. He will be remembered for his active participation and contributions to St. Thomas Moore Church, where he and Elsa started the Spanish Mass and Hispanic Ministry; he was also active with Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and at St. Matthews Catholic Church in his retirement years, as well as numerous Catholic charities and organizations around the globe. 

Juan is survived by his beloved wife Elsa (Mirás) and their 7 children: Luz Alva-Bullock of Durham, NC; Florence Alva of Lynchburg, VA; Juan Pablo Alva of Raleigh, NC; Gonzalo (Gretchen) Alva of Camarillo, CA; Constanza (Gastón) Alva de Urmeneta of Santiago, Chile; Fernando (Marija) Alva of Boston, MA; and Cristian Alva of Chapel Hill, NC; and by his adored 14 grandchildren: Nicholas (Irena), Lucas, Sophia, Natalia and Victoria Bullock; Gaston, Isabel, Tomás and Francis Urmeneta; Sebastián and Spencer Alva; Lucy, Elsie Grace and Oscar Alva; and by his cherished great-grandson Tycho, as well as many nieces and nephews in Argentina, Texas and California. 

He is preceded in death by grandchildren Pía Urmeneta and Santiago and Savannah Alva, his brothers Dr. José Alva, Emiliano (Josefina) Alva, and brother-in-law Guillermo Mirás.

Juan will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

The family is grateful for the support from friends and professionals received during Juan’s illness, particularly to Carolina Lorenzo for her loving care. 

Visitation will be held on Sunday, August 25, 2024, from 6-8 p.m. with Holy Rosary at 7 p.m. at Hall-Wynne Funeral Home, 1113 West Main Street, Durham, NC 27701

A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Monday, August 26, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. at Saint Thomas More Church, 940 Carmichael Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27714

Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Cemetery, 1721 Legion Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27715 under the care and direction of Hall-Wynn Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dr. Juan Alva’s memory to El Centro Hispano in Durham, St. Matthew’s Church, or Durham Nativity School.