Joseph Julian Alvarez del Castillo

Endicott: Joseph Julian Alvarez del Castillo passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on July 16, 2024 at his home, surrounded by his loving family, one week before his 90th birthday. Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 64 years, Helga, and their children: John (Tim Perry), Elizabeth (Bill Binkert), Henry (Jeri Meyer) and Joan; two grandsons Nick (Noreen) and Jimmy (Kelsey); one great-grandson Cody; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brothers Albert, Henry and John.

Joe was born and raised in Chicago. He later served in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany where he met his beloved future wife, Helga. After his discharge, he attended and graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology with a  B.S. in Electrical Engineering. In 1965, he joined IBM, working as a Staff Programmer in  both Endicott and Germany. Joe had a curious and analytical mind which led him to travel the world enjoying different cultures and people, to find great enjoyment in the sustained focus required to excel as a computer programmer, tackle complex puzzles, and even to build his family's first color television. After a distinguished career, he retired from IBM in 1993. During retirement, Joe volunteered as an AARP tax preparer and taught ESL classes for Literacy Volunteers. His greatest legacy is his family.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 am Monday July 22 at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, 701 W. Main St. Endicott. Burial with Military Honors will follow in Riverhurst Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 pm Sunday at the Hopler & Eschbach Funeral Home, 483a Chenango St. Binghamton. In lieu of flowers, donations to the OLGC Food Pantry or Guthrie-Lourdes Hospice would be welcome. Please sign his guestbook online at www.HEFUNERALHOME.com. 

The family extends their special thanks to friends and family for all their prayers and support, especially Nita, Cathy, Pat, Fitz and Ghislaine, the Our Lady of Good Council Choir and the German Club Chorus.

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