Alfred Ortiz Jr.'s Obituary
Alfred T. Ortiz Jr., known affectionately as “Al” or “Freddy,” age 79, of Lorain, Ohio, passed away peacefully with all his children on December 15th, 2025. Born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, to Alfredo and Juanita Ortiz (née Torres), he came to Lorain in 1948. He made Lorain his home for the rest of his life, graduating from Admiral King High School in 1965 and building a legacy rooted in faith, family, and service.
In 1973, Al married the love of his life, Anita (née Santos). Together, they raised five children in a home filled with devotion and deeply centered on Christ.
Al retired after 32 years of dedicated service to the General Electric Supply Division. As an operations manager, he took great pride in training college students to become branch managers, and he was widely respected for his incredible work ethic, reliability, and integrity.
What people loved most about Al was his generous heart and his deep love for the Lord and his family. A true servant of God, he consistently put the needs of others before his own. He served his community by volunteering at the Catholic Charities of Lorain soup kitchen and served his church as a Eucharistic minister and lector at Sacred Heart Chapel and St. Peter’s Parish. He and Anita were also proud to participate in the first couples' Cursillo.
Al’s smile could light up a room, and his joyful spirit was felt by everyone he encountered. Despite battling a lifelong illness, he remained resilient, exuding a strength that came from God. His life reflected the words of his favorite scripture, John 15, as he remained firmly rooted in Christ, the true vine. Al understood that apart from God we can do nothing; he lived striving to remain in His love, bearing fruit through kindness and unwavering faith. Even through "pruning seasons" of hardship, he trusted God’s purpose and found joy in Him.
Al had a love for rock and roll music and began playing guitar at age 18. Music was a source of great joy and a way for him to express his gratitude for life. However, he was happiest when spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren, who were the light of his life. Known for his amazing sense of humor, Al often reminded his loved ones that while life throws curveballs, the important thing is to stay positive and find the humor in all things.
Al will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, great-grandfather and a faithful friend of God. He was a man who bore much fruit, fruit that will be lasting.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Alfredo S. and Juanita Ortiz, and his beloved wife, Anita Ortiz.
He is survived by his five children: Jennifer (Sean), Adrianna (Raul), and Andrew (Gloria), all of Columbus, Ohio; Matthew (Catherine) of Fort Wayne, Indiana; and Allison (Luis) of Lorain, Ohio. He also leaves behind eleven grandchildren: Aryanna, Alyssa, Alexander, Amalee, Jayden, Elaina, Alivia, Marisa, Adam, Augustin, and Anastasia; one great-granddaughter, Evana as well as Steve and Evelyn, two very special people who lovingly helped care for Alfred.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, Decemeber 21, 2025 from 2-5 PM at Dovin & Reber Jones Funeral and Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst, OH 44001. Closing Prayers will be held at 8:45 AM on Monday, December 22, 2025 in the funeral center followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 AM at St. Peter’s Catholic Parish, 3655 Oberlin Avenue, Lorain, OH 44053 with Father Craig Hovanec officiating. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Lorain.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Al’s memory to the Catholic Charities of Lorain County online at https://www.ccdocle.org/locations/catholic-charities-lorain-county or to the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation online at https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/chapters/neohio
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