FAPAGOW honors the memory of our Advisor and former Vice President Larry Alcantara (November 10, 1947-January 29, 2023). In remembrance of his service to our country, military honors service was held at Tahoma National Cemetery on Tuesday February 21, 2023.
Larry Alcantara was born in Silverton, Oregon, on November 10, 1947 to Mr. Juan Alcantara and Mrs. Ann Marie (Carey) Alcantara. He was raised in Rainier Valley, Seattle, Washington, attending Columbia Grade School, Sharples Junior High, and Franklin High School. He volunteered for the US Marines at 17 years old and served as Military Police (Shore Patrol). At 19 years old, he served in-country at Danang, Vietnam from November 1967 to September 1968.
Larry began his public service career as an Employment Interviewer/Veterans Counselor, Washington State Employment Security from 1972 to 1973. He worked as Employment/Recruiting Manager and Executive Search Manager for the City of Seattle Personnel Department from 1973 to 1997 when he was appointed by King County Executive Ron Sims to King County Elections Manager (13th largest county in the US). He retired from his public service career as the Affordable Housing Liaison, Office of Policy and Planning in June 2002.
Larry Alcantara was a lifelong servant leader, serving during the 1970’s as an adult youth coach in football, baseball and basketball. During his public service career, he served on volunteer boards for community-based organizations for cultural heritage, performing arts, human services, and political action. Post retirement, Larry chose to volunteer in veteran’s affairs serving with the Governor’s Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee, the Governors Council – Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, and the Outreach Committee for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. He was Past Commandant of the Puget Sound Marine Corps League and Commander, Leatherneck Honor Guard.
Among volunteer positions he held were President, Filipino American City Employees of Seattle, (FACES); President, Filipino Youth Activities (FYA); Vice President, Filipino American Political Action Group of Washington (FAPAGOW); Chair, Organizing Committee, Pista Sa Nayon; Chair, Pagdiriwang, Filipino Cultural Heritage Society of Washington (FCHSW) and Board Member, Northwest Asian American Theater.
Larry Alcantara was a co-project leader of the Filipino American Vietnam War Veterans Oral History Project by the Filipino National Historical Society – Greater Seattle Chapter (FANHS) and was producing, PINOY, a collection of stories about Seattle’s Filipino American Softball Team (1970-1990).
Larry lived in Des Moines WA with his beloved Carine (Laigo) Martenson. He had two grown children, three grandchildren and one great granddaughter. Larry enjoyed long distance
motorcycle riding, oral history, and daily walks with his German Shepherd – Diego.
FAPAGOW 
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