Alex Perez is a one of a kind. He is the smartest, yet the most humble person I have worked with. His abilities to teach himself anything about controls and logic on the fly is unprecedented. Alex is the one person I have always been able to say "fixes" a problem before moving to something else. With that said it is not Alex's ability to learn and apply logic to solve very complex problems that really makes him special, it is his connection to people, his ability to read and understand what they need, and his ability to mentor and teach others is what makes Alex truly special. I have had the pleasure to work with Alex for more than 8 years, over this time we have built a great working relationship that has blossomed to a friendship.

Alex has been battling cancer over the past four or five years. Unless Alex let you know there is no way that you would know he was sick. He is the toughest SOB I've known. The Cancer started in his intestines which for multiple months Alex needed to wear a bag until the cancer and the majority of his intestines were cut out. During this time Alex never wavered his responsibilities at work or at home. Even after surgeries he would work from home and answer his phone when called. If needed he was available 24hrs a day to help support the success of The Wine Group. There was a good period after this that Alex was doing well and winning the battle. Every quarter I would get the prognosis of his most recent cat scan, and all seemed to be going well, although he was always on a chemo cycle, at times, I would forget that he was sick. In the past twelve months or so pain in the leg, back, and chest began to happen, the Cancer was spreading. Even with this Alex was as positive as he always had been telling me, "Ryan it will be fine, it is all in the mind and staying positive." Personally, I would've crumbled if I was in Alex' shoes.

I visited Alex at Stanford Medical center on Tuesday April 29th, unfortunately is he now losing the battle with Cancer. He is still fighting and has let the doctors know that he wants to explore all treatments possible, after all of this he is still positive. While I was there he was surrounded by his brothers, sister, wife, and mother. His six year old son, Alex Jr. was at home being watched by another family member. I know that there is not much I/we can do for Alex right now, the little we can do is try to support him and his family as much as possible to take their mind off mortgage, bills, daycare, and food. I know that Alex has meant as much to many of you as he does to me, if there is anything you can give I know that Alex and his family would be very grateful. Regardless if you're able to donate or not please make sure that Alex and his family are in your thoughts, help him stay positive.