Josue Marchan Ricario

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Josue Marchan Ricario. He left this world peacefully on September 29, 2021 - lovingly surrounded by his entire family and with his beloved wife of 61 years, Gudy, by his side. With him as he serenely departed were his eldest son Ray, with wife Lorie, sons Matthew and Christopher, and daughter Mia; his second son Jerry with his wife Demi; and, his third son Dean, with wife Gayle, son Nicholas, and daughter Sydney.

Josue was born on September 5, 1929 - in the small village of Putiao, located in the province of Sorsogon, the Philippines. In 1957, like many compatriots from that time, he joined the US Navy and naively embarked on the adventure of a lifetime. After completing Boot Camp in San Diego, and in the midst of the Cold War and the Vietnam War, his Navy career, spanning two decades, flourished with underway assignments and duty stations that took him all across the globe.

As a newly minted sailor, Josue found his sea legs with assignments on the USS Utica, USS Macon and the USS Taluga. Shore duty at Naval Station Bremerton, Washington soon followed where Gudy joined him and gave birth to son Ray. From there, he joined Helicopter Squadron 5 (HS-5) based at Naval Air Station Quonset Point, Rhode Island where he deployed with the USS Wasp, USS Intrepid and USS Essex. During his time in Rhode Island, he and Gudy gave birth to sons, Jerry and Dean. At HS-5, Josue had the good fortune of becoming part of history when his squadron picked up the astronauts of the Gemini and Apollo capsules that splashed down in the Atlantic.

While stationed in Quonset Point, Josue organized the first Filipino-American organization of North Kingston - a proud accomplishment for him and the budding Filipino community in Rhode Island. In 1969 he was presented with the Sailor of the Year award and, that same year, was promoted to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. From Rhode Island, he and his family were transferred overseas to NSO La Maddalena, Sardinia, Italy, and finally back to the US aboard the USS El Paso, based at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, where he retired in 1977.

After 20 years in the Navy, he decided to return with his family to the Philippines to enjoy the relaxation and tranquility of retirement. While there, he enrolled in Aquinas University to fulfill a lifelong goal of finishing his college education. After earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with Magna Cum Laude honors, he returned to the US in 1982 and worked with the MWR at the Naval Station San Diego before finally retiring in 1996.

Josue was a devoted husband, a good father, a doting grandfather, uncle, and friend to so many. Above all he was a man of integrity. He will affectionately be remembered for his compassion, quick wit and oftentimes irreverent humor. He will be terribly missed by his wife Gudy and the entire Ricario family.

May you rest in peace - We love you!