Luis Alberto Sierra's Obituary
Luis Alberto Sierra, 85, passed into eternal peace on December 30, 2025. He had resided with his wife, daughter and son-in-law in Temple Terrace, Florida.
Luis was born on June 19, 1940, in Lima, Peru, to Marina Velasquez and Augusto Sierra. Primarily raised by his mother, he began working after school at age eleven to help meet their household needs. Luis remained steadfast in his role as a family provider for the rest of his life. Known as “Lucho” to his childhood friends, he was thrilled by both Peruvian and American popular music of the 1950s. He also greatly enjoyed his country’s exceptional cuisine. Luis immigrated to the United States in 1964 in search of job opportunities and was soon drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. Once the wartime situation became clear, he found strength in bonding with his fellow soldiers and using his military pay to complete construction of his mother’s house.
On May 1, 1969, Luis married Edith Pacheco of Montevideo, Uruguay; they went on to gain U.S. citizenship and raise their three children in New York City. He embraced Edith’s large extended family and encouraged her to take long trips to her home country, while he stayed and cared for the kids. Luis stressed the importance of education but also freedom for his children. He often worked overtime to fund their scholastic and artistic pursuits. Throughout his life, Luis befriended and assisted individuals from a wide diversity of backgrounds, teaching his children to be culturally curious and to open their hearts to others.
After the national upheavals of the early 1970’s, Luis searched for job stability and found it in the food manufacturing industry. He remained a member of the Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers International Union for twenty-two years until a plant layoff in 1996. He then sought a courier job through the New York City Department for the Aging that allowed him to walk downtown Manhattan each day. His exposure to banking firms inspired him to learn about long-term investing, always with the goal of helping his children.
Luis cherished his adopted home of New York City and shared his enthusiasm for ethnic restaurants, foreign films and walks in the park. He improved his English by reading the New York Times; learned the game of baseball, becoming an ardent fan of the New York Mets; and enjoyed swimming at local beaches, pools, and water parks. His family life was full of fun times as well as moments of deep, philosophical reflection. Without a doubt, Luis’ greatest passion was dancing. He most enjoyed the rhythms of tropical tunes; Motown sounds; and Peruvian valses and cumbias. Luis never lost his ties to his homeland, and he traveled back to Peru as often as he could.
Luis was a devoted son, husband and father who was deeply loved by his family and will be missed by all who got to know his kind and generous nature. His family takes comfort in knowing that he is reunited in Heaven with his beloved mother, Marina.
Luis is survived by his wife, Edith Sierra; daughter Laura Sierra and her husband Bryan King; sons Mario Sierra and Daniel Sierra, and their wives, Amanda McConathy and Jean-Marie Sierra; two grandchildren, Alessandro Sierra and Gaia Sierra; and four half-siblings Hugo Sierra, Iris Coz, Marva Sierra and Oscar Sierra.
A visitation will be held on Friday, January 9 from 11am-12pm at Boza & Roel Funeral Home in Tampa. A service celebrating Luis Alberto Sierra’s life will follow at noon, with a reception for family and friends immediately afterward.
Below is the link to the livestream that will start Friday 1/9/2026:
https://www.hdezwebcast.com/show/luis-alberto-sierra?pass=f7a9b8705642e5a4ce8b59e6ad25ee2e
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