Pablo M. Valcarcel

He was born on January 16, 1943 to the late Mercedes Gonzales and Pablo Valcarcel in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Pablo grew up in San Juan and moved to New York in 1970. Pablo began working in the mail room at Learner Shops and then became a shop steward representing the employees. He eventually became a business representative for District 65 in 1974. In 1998, Pablo worked his way up to becoming the president of Local 2179, Unite Auto Workers. During his time as president of Local 2179 he was very passionate about the labor movement and civil rights. He often quoted Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Pablo filled his spare time with numerous hobbies from fixing antique cars to jewelry making. He was also passionate about photography and he later received a certificate of completion for floral design at The New York Botanical Garden.

He is survived by his wife Ahalya Persaud; sister Lourdes Valcarcel; children Sonia Valcarcel-Bley, Wanda Valcarcel-Solvan, Pablo Valcarcel, Carlos Valcarcel, Alex Valcarcel; eleven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Family will receive visitors on Tuesday, February 18, 2014 from 2-4 and 7-9pm at Michael J. Higgins Funeral Service Inc, 321 S. Main Street, New City, NY 10956. A funeral mass will take place on Wednesday at 10am at St. Augustine’s Church, 140 Maple Avenue, New City, NY 10956. Cremation to follow at Garden State Crematory, 4101 John F. Kennedy Boulevard West, North Bergen, NJ 07047.