Holyoke – “Se fue como él era, alegre”. Gerardo “Gerry” Parrilla Castro, 91, (1926 – 2018) passed away peacefully Saturday morning. He lived in the Holyoke Health Care Center where he received loving care by their staff. Gerardo was born September 24, 1926 in Vieques, Puerto Rico to the late Marco Parrilla and Angelita Castro. Gerardo earned a BS in civil engineering from the Colegio de Ingenieros of the University of PR in Mayaguez. He was a member of the Phi Epsilon Chi Fraternity and the Club de 
Ingenieros, Arquitectos y Agrimensores. Before getting married to his beloved wife, Elsie Velazquez Santana, he served in the United States Army. Gerardo served as an engineer in housing projects, fallout shelters and at El Morro and San Cristobal Forts with the U.S. National Park Service. He worked tirelessly in Vieques to secure residents’ homestead and land ownership.
Gerardo is survived by his loving daughters Elga Parrilla and her husband Antonio Afonso of Kitchener, Canada, Agma Sweeney and her husband Jack Sweeney of Westfield, and Elsie Parrilla and Guillermo Quinteros living in Northampton. He was the cherished grandfather of Douglas, Dylan, and Teresa Sweeney and of Camilo and Daniela Quinteros-Parrilla. He leaves his sister Margarita Izquierdo and predeceased older brother Felix Parrilla.
Calling hours for Gerardo will be held Saturday, 1:30PM-3:00PM, at the WESTFIELD FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION, 4 Princeton Street, Westfield with a Funeral Home Service at 3PM. IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorial donations may be mailed to the Equipo Puente de Acero 2017-2018, Banco Popular de Puerto Rico, Atencion: Sucursal Mayaguez SUAU, P O Box 362708, San Juan, PR 00936-2708, Acct.# 088-692310 Please visit www.westfieldfuneralhome.com for Gerardo’s memorial page
