Ernesto Colon Sr.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Longtime Stapleton resident Ernesto Castro Colon Sr., 81, a retired oil burner mechanic who loved to dance salsa and fix radios, died Saturday at Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton.

Mr. Colon grew up in Puerto Rico. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, stationed in Korea. After his military service, Mr. Colon moved to Brooklyn and settled in Stapleton 40 years ago.

For 41 years, Mr. Colon worked as an oil burner mechanic for the Brooklyn-based Vico Utilities. He retired in 1987.

Mr. Colon enjoyed listening to Spanish rhythms and the greats of Latin jazz. He was smooth on his feet and used to teach salsa and merengue dance. He had a passion for radio and was good at fixing them.

“He was a very vibrant man,” said his son, Ernesto Colon Jr.

Mr. Colon was a member of the Manresa Council, Knights of Columbus.

A longtime parishioner of Immaculate Conception R.C. Church in Stapleton, Mr. Colon was the director of Spanish mass during the 1980s.

His wife of 37 years, the former Joan Bellit, died in 2006.

Surviving is his son, Ernesto.

The funeral will be tomorrow from the Virginia Funeral Chapel, Dongan Hills, with a mass at 9:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, Stapleton. Burial will be in Calverton National Cemetery, Long Island.