Punta Gorda, Florida- It is with a very heavy, broken heart, that our beloved Jose “Chico” Velez-Morillo, 72, originally from Caguas, Puerto Rico passed away on February 17, 2021 at home surrounded by his loving family.
He was born March 5, 1948 in Caguas, Puerto Rico, the son of Jose Manuel Velez and Ramona Morillo, who both predeceased him.
On October 15, 2010, he married the love of his life, Cathy Jean Calcagni and they spent the next 20 years enjoying their love and life together. They moved from Poughkeepsie, NY to Punta Gorda, FL in 2017 and thoroughly enjoyed his new home and pool.
Jose retired from the heating and air conditioning work he loved in 2011. He was a die-hard NY Yankee fan, and enjoyed many 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.
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.
A service will be held Wednesday, February 24th at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Punta Gorda and will be live streamed on the Church’s Facebook page. Immediately following the service, the Patriot Riders will provide a motorcycle escort to the Sarasota National VA Cemetery, where he will be buried with military honors.
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