Obituary of Alfred Hurtado

Alfred “Al” Hurtado, of Hollister, passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2025, in Salinas, California. He was 83. Al was born in San Juan Bautista, California on June 13, 1941. He attended San Juan Union school and graduated from San Benito County High School in 1959. Following a few years at Gavilan Junior College, he joined the Army National Guard as a cook, stationed in Fort Ord in Marina, California. It was in 1963 he met the love of his life while washing his maroon and white 1955 Chevy. They were engaged in 1964, and then married at the Mission San Juan Bautista February 21, 1965 (they would have celebrated 60 years of marriage this year). Once discharged from the guard, he began his 35 year career with the United States Postal Service in Hollister. During his tenure, he grew close to the people on his routes and until recently could still identify them by their street address! After his retirement from the post office in 1997, he took a short break and then began working as a courier for South Valley National Bank. Al had many hobbies, he was an avid fisherman and would love to take anyone who’d join him out on his boat. Many places like the San Luis Dam, Forebay, Moss Landing, South Lake Tahoe, Coyote Lake, and the Truckee River saw him casting a line and trying to catch the big one. He took to photography back in the day where you’d find him with a Canon and telescopic lenses around his neck. Combining both loves, his photos of fish, rivers, lakes, the ocean, sunsets, the beach, and many of his family graced many photo albums in the house and in frames on the wall. Like his mother, Al kept and tended to many finches, doves, button quail, lovebirds, and parakeets in the house as well as an aviary in his yard. Al loved a chance to hit it big. Home poker games that began on Tahualami in San Juan continued in his home with his kids, friends, coworkers, and even grandkids! He enjoyed scratching lottery tickets, picking lotto numbers, and playing the slots at Stateline Lake Tahoe, Chukchansi, Table Mountain, and Chumash casinos. He even tried his luck on a cruise ship to the Caribbean. He loved to work in the yard, he kept it immaculate and manicured his bonsai trees to a tee! Al loved his grandchildren and was proud of each one of them. He loved to attend and root for Baler baseball and basketball, watch the girls dance, and stood proud at the Eagle Scout awards! Al was preceded in death by his parents Maurillio and Herminia, brothers Bobby, Danny, Raymond, and Louie, and sister Hope. He is survived by his wife, Irene Hurtado of Hollister. Son, Mike Hurtado (Jeanine) of Hollister, daughter Jennifer Andrade (Allen) of Hollister. Grandchildren Trent Hurtado, Bryce Hurtado, Jaelyn Andrade, West Andrade, and Kendall Andrade. His sisters, Mary Bravo (Richard) of Hollister, Elena Bartholic (Bill) of White City, Oregon, Rosemarie Manning (Harold) of Las Vegas, Nevada, Richard Hurtado (Trish) of Granite Bay, David Hurtado of San Juan Bautista, and numerous nieces and nephews that all thought so highly of “Uncle Al.” A funeral mass will be held January 17, 2025, at 10 am at Mission San Juan Bautista. Burial will follow at San Juan Cemetery. The family invites you to join them in a celebration of life at Damm Vineyards, 3028 Cienega Road, Hollister following the burial.