Maria I. Alcala-Frasqueri

GUILDERLAND – Maria Isabel Alcala-Frasqueri, 88 of Guilderland, New York, passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 13, 2012 at home surrounded by her loving family. Ms. Alcala-Frasqueri was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on December 19, 1923. She graduated from Villa Maria College in Erie, Pennsylvania with a Bachelors Degree and earned her Masters in Science from the University of Puerto Rico, Recinto de Mayaguez. Her dissertation was “the Nature, Significance and Effect of Pasteurization on Psychrophilic Microorganism in Apparently Normal Milk in P.R”. She also completed graduate work at Catholic University in Washington, D.C. Her career started as a High School Science teacher, she also taught at Damas Hospital School of Nursing, and later became an Associate Professor of Biology, Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology at Catholic University of Puerto Rico and then at the University of Puerto Rico, Recinto de Ponce where she was the Director of the Biology Department. She was a consultant to the Urology Medical Association of Ponce, and was a member of the Urologists Board Examiners. She championed many causes, amongst them AIDS Education and Control of Nosocomial Infections in Hospitals. She was one of the pioneers in developing Scientific Fairs for High School students in Puerto Rico, and was a member of the awards committee for ten years. Her passion for the pursuit of learning and higher education, especially in the Sciences, manifested in the many programs she created, or engaged in, to encourage young adults to pursue careers in Science related professions. She retired in 1987 and moved to Albany, New York to become a full time grandmother. Even though she cared for her sister Josephine for many years at home, she found time to volunteer at Our Lady of Mercy Life Center.  She was a communicant of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Parish in Guilderland, where she forged many friendships, especially with Lorraine De Cuyper who was her Eucharistic Minister throughout her illness. Although limited by her medical conditions, she travelled frequently to Conesus Lake, her favorite spot in New York, to “charge her batteries” and enjoyed many a time riding in “It Floats”, a very old pontoon boat that would accommodate her wheel chair. She was lovingly cared for by Dr. Ann Michalek, with whom she formed a special bond and by the many personal care aides from St. Peter’s Home Care, The Eddy, Interim Health Care and Community Hospice of Albany.

Ms. Alcala-Frasqueri is survived by her daughter Maria T. Vidal (William B. Day, who cared for her dotingly) of Guilderland, her loving son Julio Vidal of Latham and the apple of her eye, her grandson Julio R. Vidal of Philadelphia, Pa., as well as her goddaughter Alma and many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her previous husband, father of her children and life-long friend Jose Angel Rodriguez, her children Jose Angel, Maria Asuncion and Maria Isabel, her Mom and Dad and eleven brothers and sisters.

There will be no calling hours. Relatives and friends are invited to a mass of Christian Burial on Friday, May 18th at 10 a.m. in St. Madeleine Sophie Parish in Guilderland. Entombment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery in Menands.  In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Madeleine Sophie Parish, 3500 Carman Road, Schenectady, NY 12303.  Arrangements have been entrusted to the Hans Funeral Home, Albany.  To leave a message of condolence for the family, send a sympathy card, or obtain directions to the church, please visit www.HansFuneralHome.com.

Click here for directions to St. Madeleine Sophie Church.