Memorial services for Alan Vera set for October 3-4 in New Jersey

The family of U.S. Greco-Roman star Alan Vera, who passed away on September 23, has notified USA Wrestling of the schedule of memorial activities to honor Alan.

There will be a wake on Thursday, October 3^rd at Barquin Funeral Home in Gutenberg, N.J., from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On Friday, October 4, a morning viewing and religious ceremony for Alan will be held at Barquin Funeral Home from 9:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Burial will occur at the Flower Hill Cemetery in North Bergen, N.J. at 11:00 a.m.

The family is holding a celebration of life for Alan Vera immediately after the burial, between 12:00 noon and 4:00 p.m. at the Rumba Cubana Restaurant in Gutenberg.

Everyone who can attend is invited to these services. The family encourages people to travel together in car pools, as possible, because there is limited parking at the funeral home and the Rumba Cubana Restaurant.

Vera leaves his family, including wife Elena Pirozkhova, a two-time U.S. Olympian and World champion in women’s freestyle wrestling, along with their infant daughter Alina.

Vera, who was born in Cuba and immigrated to the United States where he became a citizen, competed on two U.S. Senior World Teams and won two Pan American medals for the USA in Greco-Roman. He was a four-time U.S. Nationals champion. Vera was No. 2 on 2024-25 Greco-Roman National Team at 97 kg at the time of his death.

Alan Vera Obituary on TheMat.com

Friends have updated a Go-Fund-Me site for Alan’s family, which was initially set up to support Alan’s family while he was in the hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest playing soccer. They have humbly requested further support during the “next steps in honoring Alan’s memory and handling unforeseen expenses and supporting Alan's baby Alina.”

ALAN VERA MEMORIAL SCHEDULE

Thursday, October 3

4:00-8:00 pm – Wake at Barquin Funeral Home, 7101 Broadway, Guttenberg, NJ, 07093

Friday October 4th

9:00-10:30 am - Morning viewing and religious ceremony at Barquin Funeral Home, 7101 Broadway, Guttenberg, NJ, 07093

11:00 am – Cemetery burial at Flower Hill Cemetery, 5433 John F. Kennedy Blvd, North Bergen, NJ 07047

12:00 noon -4:00 pm - Celebration of life immediately after burial at Rumba Cubana restaurant, 6909 JFK Blvd E, Guttenberg, NJ, 07093

*Everyone is invited

*Car pool as much as possible! Parking is limited at the funeral home and Rumba Cubana.