Dr. Alvin L. Sago passed peacefully into eternal rest on August 11, 2026. He was 82 years old. Because of his unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, we have the blessed assurance that this is not goodbye, but a temporary separation. We find comfort in knowing that we will one day see him again in Heaven.
He was born and raised in a small lead mining town in southeast Missouri shortly after his father survived Omaha Beach on D-Day – a place Dr. Sago visited twice in honor of his father. He was raised surrounded by a large, loving family that encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a doctor. In high school he met his love, Marcia, who he would later marry. They recently celebrated their 60th anniversary. Together they raised two children. Those children, along with Marcia and their four grandchildren all survive him and miss him dearly. He is also survived by a loving sister, two brothers, and their families.
Dr. Sago graduated from Central Methodist College in 1966 and the University of Missouri School of Medicine in 1970. After his internship year in Kansas City, Missouri, and one year of general surgery residency at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Dr. Sago joined the United States Air Force in 1972 to participate in the Air Force urology residency program at Wilford Hall Medical Center on Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.
Dr. Sago served in the Air Force’s medical corps with distinction for 21 years, including ultimately leading what became the joint Army/Air Force Medical Corps urology residency program where he trained as well as leading a field hospital in England during the First Gulf War. He retired from the Air Force in 1993 having reached the rank of colonel. Dr. Sago was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, and The Legion of Merit for his service.
Following his Air Force retirement, Dr. Sago and Marcia moved to Florence, Alabama where he had a second career as a private practice urologist until 2015. In addition to caring for his patients, he was an influential leader in the Shoals medical community holding numerous leadership roles at Eliza Coffee Memorial Hospital, including Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff. He led the 11-physician steering committee that actively advocated for and was instrumental in bringing to fruition the North Alabama Medical Center (NAMC), where he would spend his final days.
Following his second retirement, Dr. Sago returned to his boyhood hobbies of fishing and hunting. And what better place to do that than Northwest Alabama. If Dr. Sago wasn’t at home tending to his yard or giving orders, he was in a deer blind attempting to thin the deer population. He shared this love of hunting and fishing with his grandchildren who he adored.
Dr. Sago’s family would like to thank all those that supported him, Marcia and their family during his brief illness. We would especially like to thank the wonderful doctors, operating room personnel and the NAMC Intensive Care Unit staff that did all they could for our husband/dad/papa. He received outstanding care and these staff showed incredible compassion.
The Colonel, as many called him, loved his family and friends dearly. He ended most conversations asking what he could do for them. In his memory, the family asks that you take a moment to reach out to those that you love, to give them a hug, and ask them if there is anything you can do to help them.
A celebration of life service will be held at Woodmont Baptist Church on Sunday, August 16, at 3 pm. Visitation with Dr. Sago’s family will precede the service from 1-3 pm. Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or The Tunnels to Towers Foundation in memory of Alvin L. Sago.
