Alphonso Sorhaindo was born in Vieille Case, Dominica on April 10, 1942. He was the eighth of the children from the marriage of Rosa and Clive Sorhaindo. After completing his secondary education in Dominica, he attended Iona College in New Rochelle, New York and earned a Bachelors in Psychology in June 1964. He went on to earn a master's degree in Psychology at Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut, in June 1967. He completed his doctorate in clinical psychology at the Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio in June 1970. Dr Sorhaindo's pursuit of academic knowledge continued at Fairleigh Dickinson University, New Jersey and was awarded a certificate for the completion of course sequence for the psychopharmacology postdoctoral training program in December 2002.

Dr Sorhaindo was a professional member of:
The American Orthopsychiatric Association
The American Association of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities
The Westchester County Psychological Association
The NY State Psychological Association

Dr Sorhaindo's work history is impressive. From 1967 through 1973, he worked as a senior psychologist in a number of community settings including Catholic Social Sources, St Vincent's Orphanage, Educational Opportunity Center of Westchester, Metropolitan Training Institute of Drug Abuse, and the Danburry Headstart Program.

On May 24 1973, Dr Sorhaindo started a long career with the New York State Office of Mental Retardation in the boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, NY. He retired in 2005 and started thinking about his relocation to a warmer climate.

Throughout his long career, Dr Sorhaindo was known to be a dedicated and hardworking man who had high standards for his work. He truly believed in setting an example for his fellow workers and would not stop at anything to improve the quality of life of people with developmental disabilities.

Al was very stubborn and persistent, he stopped at nothing to pursue his goals.. His personal calendar was marked to the nearest minute with his personal activities. His was a stickler for rules and expected everyone else to meet his high standards.

When it came to his health, Al beat all the odds and kept his doctors on their toes by challenging their theories and treatments. Throughout his illness, his mind stayed sharp. He continued to keep in touch with family, friends and colleagues, through emails, phone calls and Facebook.

Al's mother had a great influence on his faith. He often recalled that she would say throughout the day "Offer it to the Lord". This most likely was a strong determinant in the way he bore his long life of illness. It was a rarity to hear Al complain about his illness, being a diabetic with renal failure. He was known as a fighter who never gave up. In the family, he was known as "the Cat with nine lives". He always bounced back from every one of his hospitalizations. He believed every time that he would come out of it. Up to the end, he questioned his doctors, wanting to know what the plan was.

He is survived by his wife Malou, children, Al Jr, Kathrin, Jeannie and Sheona. His grandchildren, Shannon, Alex, Reagan, Maggy, Ryan, Sean and Dylan., His brothers and sisters, Anna, Joan,, Nalda, Rosie, Rupert and Renneth. We thank God that he blessed us with Al's life. May he continue to inspire us by his courage and love of his family and friends.