Jose Velez Morillo
Jose Ramon Velez Morillo
Jose “Chico” Velez-Morillo was born March 5, 1948 in Caguas, Puerto Rico, the son of Jose Manuel Velez and Ramona Morillo. He had 1 brother, Jorge and 1 sister, Carmen. He also had 3 stepsisters, Mercedes, Margot and Lillian. He served his country proudly and honorably in Vietnam from June 1966 to July 1968 and continued his service as a member of the New York National Guard. While serving his country in Vietnam, he earned the National Defense medal, the Overseas Service medal, the Vietnam Service medal, the Vietnam Campaign medal, and the Expert Marksman medal. He had 2 children, Jose Ramon, Jr. born March 23, 1970 and Carmen Denise, born February 19, 1974. In 2001, he met the love of his life, Cathy Jean Calcagni and, on October 15, 2010, he made her his wife and acquired 2 stepdaughters, Nicole and Heather. They spent the 20 years they had together enjoying their love and life. They moved from Poughkeepsie, NY to Punta Gorda, FL in 2017. Jose retired from the heating and air conditioning work he loved in 2011. He was a die-hard NY Yankee fan, and enjoyed many Yankee baseball games and NASCAR races with his wife over the years. A member of the Last Chance Motorcycle Club, until he moved from NY, he enjoyed the friendship, fun and love of all his fellow bikers. Jose was a 37-year member of Alcoholics Anonymous and always credited the extra years that he lived to this fellowship. He was always there with a smile, a hug, an ear, or a shoulder to cry on for anyone who needed it. His strength and morals are a tribute to his heart and soul. He touched the lives of so many people with his experience, strength, and hope and will be deeply missed by all those who had the privilege to have known him. He died February 17, 2021 after a short battle with Multiple Myeloma from exposure to Agent Orange, aggravated by liver cancer. His wife and family were at his side. Survivors include his loving wife, Cathy, of Punta Gorda, FL, his son Jose Velez, Jr (Maria) of Cypress, CA, his daughter Carmen (Rudy) Sparkman, his stepdaughters Nicole and Heather DiTrocchio. He is also survived by his sister, Carmen (Victor) Hernandez, brother Jorge (Nereida) Velez, sister Mercedes (Juan) Alejandro, sister Margie Velez, and sister Lillian (Robert) Ryan. He leaves behind 9 grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, and uncles. He will be missed forever.