Guillermo F. Ayerbe

1931-2019

Guillermo Francisco Ayerbe died in West Islip, NY on August 10th, 2019. He was 88 years old. Guillermo was born April 13, 1931 in Riobamba, Ecuador, son of Miguel Ángel Ayerbe and Guillermina Pozo.

Guillermo is survived by his wife of 11 years, Sandy Jima, who resides in Ecuador; his sister Graciela and brother Ignacio, both of Ecuador; four children - Martha (Robert Carlin), Anita (Phil Holmes), and Bill (Stephany) and Paty Jima; ten grandchildren - Melissa, Matthew, and Alex Carlin; Guillermo and Sebastian Ayerbe, and Savannah Smith; Steven and Lauren Holmes, and Lucy and Henry Nissen; and two great-grandchildren, Luna and Scarlett. He is pre-deceased by his wife Carmen Lucía Ayerbe in 2002.

Guillermo came to the U.S. in 1961 after graduating from the Universidad de San Gregorio in Quito, and studied in Granada, Spain, and Guadalajara, Mexico. Intending to become a priest, he entered the Jesuit Order in Ecuador in 1952, but left shortly after arriving in Jersey City, where he met Carmen (Lucy) Irizarry. They were married in 1963 and resided in Jersey City where they raised their three children. Guillermo went on to earn a Master’s Degree and a Ph.D. from NYU in Classical and Medieval Spanish literature.

Guillermo’s vocation was education, and he taught at North Bergen High School from 1964-1989. He also taught English to new Americans in community programs, and continued to teach at Iona College, Upsala College, and the Pontifical Catholic University of Quito well into his 80’s.

After retirement, he and Lucy split their time between residences in West Islip, NY and Quito, Ecuador. He pursued his creative interests as a poet and composer. A lifelong violinist, he set his poems to music and recorded two albums with his children, Echoes del Corazon, and Pasillos Immortales. He also compiled a two volume compendium of Folkloric Music of Ecuador, which was published in his native country and is a staple in university libraries.

He will be remembered for his love of travel, music, poetry, and art, and most importantly for love of his family.

His family will receive friends Monday, August 12, 2109, from 2-4:30pm and 7-9:30pm, at Claude R. Boyd-Spencer Funeral Homes, 255 Higbie Lane, West Islip, NY 11795. His funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, August 13th, 2019, 9:30am, at Our Lady of Lourdes Roman Catholic Church, 455 Hunter Avenue, West Islip. To share memories or condolences, please visit: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/west-islip-ny/guillermo-ayerbe-8816280

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Our Lady of Consolation Nursing and Rehabilitative Care Center, c/o Margaret Nixdorf, Director of Pastoral Care, 111 Beach Drive, West Islip, NY 11795.