Frank 'Dennis' Alvarez — 1945-2025
Frank 'Dennis' Alvarez
With tremendous sadness and emotion, we announce the death of Frank "Dennis" Alvarez, who passed away on June 12, 2025 at his home with his family by his side. Dennis was 79.
Born and raised in Ybor City and West Tampa, the son of cigar workers with Spanish and Italian roots, Dennis attended St. Joseph's Catholic School, Jesuit High School where he graduated in 1964, The University of South Florida and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1974 upon graduating from South Texas College of Law in Houston. After returning home to Tampa and starting his legal career at the State Attorneys office, Dennis went into private practice. In 1980, Dennis was elected unopposed as a Hillsborough County Court Judge. In 1984, Judge Alvarez was elected unopposed to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court Bench. In 1988, Dennis was elected by his fellow Judges to serve as the Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Dennis served as Chief Judge from 1988 to 2001. After 21 years of service as a Judge, in 2001, Dennis retired from the bench and returned to private practice, limiting his practice to Alternate Dispute Resolution. He first worked for Barr, Murman & Tonelli and then in 2015, joined his oldest son Derek at Genders - Alvarez - Diecidue P.A., where Dennis continued his practice until 2024.
During his thirteen year [13] tenure as the Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, Judge Alvarez oversaw numerous improvements to the state’s then third largest circuit. Along with his tremendous and hard working support staff, he helped establish programs including but not limited to: Closed circuit television hearings; Rocket Docket designed to reduce case backlogs in Juvenile Court; Adult Drug Court; Juvenile Drug Court, one of the first nationwide, designed for non-violent juvenile offenders, addressing the problem of juvenile substance abuse through a combination of treatment, education and community and judicial supervision. This Court drew national attention when it was featured on the television news show “48″ Hours; SHOCK Education Program for first/second time juvenile non-violent offenders with a firsthand look at the effects of criminal behavior through educational classes and on-site visits of law enforcement facilities; Teen Court; Establishment of a separate civil and criminal Domestic Violence Divisions; Assisted in creating a Parents, Children & Divorce Class; Children’s Advocacy Center; Appointed Special Masters for Night Court proceedings; and Elder Court Task Force aka Elder Justice Center designed to identify barriers that senior citizen face when accessing court services. This program received the Justice Achievement Award from the Nation Association for Court Management for “meritorious projects and exemplary accomplishments that enhance the administration of justice”.
During his distinguished career, Dennis also served on many commissions through appointments by the Florida Supreme Court and is a previous chairman of the prestigious Florida Conference of Circuit Court Judges. He was a member of the U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. As a result of his contributions, Dennis received many community service awards including the George Edgecomb Bar Association Humanitarian Award, the Robert J. Patton Outstanding Jurist Award, the Hispanic Man of the Year Award, the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers’ [now known as the Florida Justice Association] Outstanding Jurist in the State of Florida Award for his Dedication to the Preservation of Individual Rights and Access to the Courts, the University of South Florida Distinguished Alumnus Award, District VI, Juvenile Justice Hall of Fame, he was voted a “Tampa Bay’s Top Lawyer" specializing in arbitration/mediation by Tampa Bay Magazine, and most recently, was named a 2024 Community Hero by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay.
On August 13, 2010, by the grace of God, after approximately six months on the transplant list following heart failure, Dennis received the gift of life, a heart transplant that gave him another almost 15 years. Our family is so thankful to have had him with us for these additional years. These years allowed Dennis to do so many things that he would have missed. He was able to spend more time with his family and friends, travel, attend sporting events, cook his favorite meals, enjoy football Saturdays and Sundays watching his beloved Gators and Bucs, practice law with his oldest son Derek, among many other things. Dennis cherished watching his sons and grandson compete in sports, the equestrian competitions of his granddaughter, dinners with his cooking club (FEO) friends, but most of all, his weekly family nights. Although he tried, Dennis never had the opportunity to meet the donor's family, but we remain immensely grateful for the gift of life that he received. If you are not already an organ donor, please consider registering as one. This is something that Dennis advocated tirelessly.
Despite his numerous accomplishments and awards, Dennis was happiest when he was around his family. Dennis leaves behind his wife of 43 years Doris, his son's Douglas and Derek [Georgia], their two children Cameron Alvarez & Ella Maria Alvarez, his best buddy, his schnauzer Yogi, and many extended family members and dear friends.
Dennis was preceded in death by his father Francisco Jose "Joe" Alvarez, his mother Estella Alvarez, and his brother Joseph Chris Alvarez.
The Family would like to give special thanks to their dedicated family and friends who have provided much support, Father Mike Jones of Sacred Heart who read Dennis his Last Rites on very short notice, the Hospice team of nurses and aides who provided comfort and assistance during his final days at home, and all of his Doctors, nurses, aides, techs, and therapists. The Family would also like to thank Sam Diasti, M.D. for his steady management of Dennis' care, and will remain forever grateful to Dennis' Tampa General Hospital Transplant Team, Mark W. Weston M.D., Bengt Herwig M.D., Christiano Caldeira M.D., Benjamin Mackie, MD and all of the other Doctors, nurses and team members involved in his heart transplant, including but not limited to his transplant coordinators Lisa Head R.N., Tammi Wicks R.N., Melanie Nicholson R.N., and the entire transplant clinic heart team, and all of the outstanding nurses and other health care provides who helped to extend his life.
Honorary Pallbearers include:
J.C. Alvarez, Tre Alvarez, Marc Perez, Tyler Perez, Scott Wilson, Jason Fernandez, Larry Gray, J.R. Gray, Matt Gray, Tim Gray, Stacy Knight, Anthony Knight, Eric Knight, Curt Genders, Anthony Diecidue, E.J. Salcines, Simon Canasi, Rene Rodriguez, Tim Lazzara, Ralph Fernandez, Wayne Suarez, Anthony Alfonso, Xavier Prida M.D., Walter Lopez, Dr. Michael Scannon, Sonny Palomino, Vince Pardo. Billy Palmisano, Mario Plazza, John Ryals, Eddie Trujillo, Vince LoScalzo, Al Diecidue, Jimmy Dominguez, Victor Fernandez, Manuel Pumariega, Gino Tiozzo, and Phillip Cacciatore.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Dennis' name and honor to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa Bay https://www.bgctampa.org/ (813) 875-5771 or the Tampa General Hospital Foundation https://www.tgh.org/foundation [to benefit the heart transplant program] (813) 844-7250 . There will be no public service or visitation, but a celebration of life will be planned in the months ahead.
