Frank ‘Dennis’ Alvarez

With tremendous sadness and emotion, we announce the death of Frank “Dennis” Alvarez, who passed away on June 12, 2025 at his home with his family by his side. Dennis was 79.

Born and raised in Ybor City and West Tampa, the son of cigar workers with Spanish and Italian roots,  Dennis attended St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Jesuit High School where he graduated in 1964, The University of South Florida and was admitted to The Florida Bar in 1974 upon graduating from South Texas College of Law in Houston. After returning home to Tampa and starting his legal career at the State Attorneys office, Dennis went into private practice. In 1980, Dennis was elected unopposed as a Hillsborough County Court Judge. In 1984, Judge Alvarez was elected unopposed to the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court Bench. In 1988, Dennis was elected by his fellow Judges to serve as the Chief Judge of the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit. Dennis served as Chief Judge from 1988 to 2001. After 21 years of service as a Judge, in 2001, Dennis retired from the bench and returned to private practice, limiting his practice to Alternate Dispute Resolution.  He first worked for Barr, Murman & Tonelli and then in 2015, joined his oldest son Derek at Genders – Alvarez – Diecidue P.A., where Dennis continued his practice until 2024.