Land+Image | In Memoriam: Michael Alvarez
Visalia- based photographer Michael Alvarez was nearly a fixture on SRT preserves. His many wedding, quinceañeras, graduation, engagement, and family photo shoots were a common sight at Kaweah Oaks, Dry Creek, and Homer Ranch Preserves.
Michael also took care to share his craft so that special needs students would have a means of self expression. He brought his students with the My Voice photography and mental health program at Arts Consortium on field trips to the preserves. And he was a model participant in SRT's Photography Permit Program, ever respectful of SRT's mission and the preserve's primary conservation focus.
Then he was gone.
A sudden and brief illness claimed Michael's life over the summer, leaving behind his wife, Lyn Mae Alvarez to sort a lifetime of his memories and achievements in photography.
"Michael was a versatile and well-rounded photographer. He captured memorable moments for his clients and met their needs," Lyn Mae said. "He loved photographing at SRT preserves because of the wide array of beautiful and scenic backgrounds. He was so busy with clients shoots that he didn't get to capture the landscape as much as he would have liked, but he loved the land and SRT's mission."
Michael was born in February 8, 1966 to Robert Alvarez and Elizabeth Marie Alvarez in Gardena, Ca. He is preceded in death by his dad Robert Alvarez, father in law Florentino Teves, granny Jean Marie Lynch and cousin Thomas Eugene “Tommy” Christensen.
Michael is survived by his loving wife Lyn Mae, mother Elizabeth Marie Alvarez, mother in law Rebecca Teves, sister Lisa Torres (Gabe Torres), niece Samantha Marie Torres (Abel Ibarra), great grandson Samuel Abel Torres Ibarra, nephew Nico Torres, Aunt Cathy Chapman, cousin Jeannie “Chickie” Marie White, Russell Christensen, nephew Andrew Christensen.
Michael is also survived by her brothers in law Oliver Teves & family, John Paul Jeremiah Teves & family and Timothy Joseph Teves & family , as well as Michael’s brother and sisters on the Alvarez side Paul, Kathy and Krista and their families.
Many Visalians will recall Michael's many years at Mike's Quality Camera in downtown Visalia. For his community contributions, support of SRT, his fine photography and a life well lived, we salute Michael Alvarez.
