Dr. Salvador Abonal Parco Obituary (2023)

Dr. Salvador Abonal Parco completed his early life on March 25, 2023, at the age of 89 in Logan, UT. He was born in the San Nicolas barangay in the city of Nabua, in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines on January 3, 1934, to Eulogio Almazan Parco and Anaceleta Dorosan Abonal. Salvador ("Sal", "Badong", "Papa", "Lolo", "Tito Sal") was talented in playing musical instruments since the precocious age of 5. He was trained by his father on the clarinet, the guitar, and the violin, which he played beautifully until the age of 88. Sal excelled as a student. In 1955, he graduated from the Ateneo de Naga University, a Jesuit liberal arts college, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in social science and English. In 1963, he finished a master's degree at Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) in organizational methods and community development. In 1973, he earned a Ph.D. in rural sociology from the Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Parco used his education to teach others professionally, in his community, and in family and private life. He was actively employed until the age of 80. In the Philippines, he began in 1956 as a community development instructor and training officer. He taught rural sociology at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. He was on the faculty as an associate professor at Ateneo de Manila University, teaching behavioral science and as chairman of the graduate department. He also conducted research for the Institute of Philippine Culture, edited the Philippine Sociological Review, and chaired an annual conference of the Philippine Sociological Society. He was sent by the Philippine government to Afghanistan in the summer of 1960 to live among and train Afghans in community development. After he toured many cities in Europe, he returned to the United States where he provided an official report at the Pentagon. Quite fortuitously, he was at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC for the Martin Luther King Jr. march and "I Have a Dream" speech. Sal was up front and close to the Reverend, locking hands with the throngs of people singing "We Shall Overcome". It is believed that he was the last remaining person from Erie, PA who had been at that historic event on August 28, 1963. After completing his formal education, Sal brought his wife, Alicia, and four children to live in State College, PA. Later he continued his career as a professor at Penn State Behrend and moved his family to Erie. He also taught classes at Gannon University, Villa Maria College, Thiel College, and Mercyhurst North East. Other employment opportunities included work in the blue-collar sector at General Electric and at American Sterilizer, both companies in Erie. He also worked in the financial services sector at Mutual of Omaha, Prudential Insurance, Waddell and Reed Financial, and Forth Financial Networking. His favorite opportunity was as a legal rights educator for Northwestern Legal Services, speaking throughout the tri-state region. He concluded his career at Great Erie Community Action Committee, helping individuals increase their financial literacy. President/Director Parco was an officer or board member of various organizations: Filipino American Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania (founder); International Institute of Erie, Inc.; Citizens Against Racism in Erie; Family Living Advisory Council of the Erie County Cooperative Extension Service; Erie Neighborhood Watch Council; Voices for Independence; Retired Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Council; Erie County Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission; Independent Council on Aging; Alzheimer's Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania; Lakeshore Community Services; Erie County Coalition of Mental Health Consumers; Forrester's Harbor, Inc; and the Erie City Zoning Hearing Board. He was also heavily involved with local activities: We Love Erie Days; United Way; Glenwood Manor Association; Erie County Coalition of Persons with Disabilities; Northwest Tri-County Right to Education Task Force; Community Support Program of Erie County; Erie Children's Health Insurance Program Coalition; NAMI; and Erie Asian Pacific American Association. Brother Parco was a convert and faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints since September 27, 1974. He served in leadership, teaching, musical and ministering callings in the Erie East Branch, the Erie, Pennsylvania District, the Erie Ward, The Erie Second Ward, and the Jamestown, New York Stake. In 2011, he and his wife, Linda, served as Ordinance Workers in the Palmyra, New York Temple every other Saturday for three years. In 2014, he and Linda served a 13-month church service mission in the Jamestown Stake of the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission. Sal is now united in eternity with his wife of 46 years, Alicia Tan Uy Parco; and his granddaughter, Kristina Marissa Castro Parco. A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, April 12th, at 11 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1101 S Hill Rd, Erie, PA 16509. A viewing will be held one hour prior. Services are being handled by Dusckas Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. 2607 Buffalo Rd. CLICK HERE TO PRINT THIS PAGE SHARE TO SOCIAL MEDIA OR EMAIL