Mr. Egedio Alonzo Victoria Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Egedio Alonzo Victoria, Sr. was born January 19, 1932, in St. Thomas U.S. Virgin Island. He is the middle son of five boys and the sibling of five girls, born of Marie ‘Mary’ Delores Natividad Bacque ‘Backer’ Victoria and Alfred ‘Alfredo’ Hypolite “Polo” Victoria. During the great Caribbean migration, which began in the mid 1940’s, Egedio’s parents moved to New York for better opportunities. While many of their children followed, some including Egedio, remained in St. Thomas and was raised by his paternal Aunt Anita ‘Nita’ until he graduated from high school. Egedio attended Abraham Lincoln Elementary School where he received a Certificate of Completion in 1944, Charlotte Amalie Junior High School where he received a diploma in 1947 and graduated from Charlotte Amalie High School in 1950. Egedio, like many young men his age throughout the country, was drafted into the military, where he served 2 years in the army from 1953 to 1955 during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged in 1955 with the rank of Corporal. Egedio married his high school sweetheart Gloria A. Callwood in Harlem New York in 1954. During the couple’s high school courtship, Egedio worked as an usher at the Center Movie Theater on Main Street. He only allowed Gloria free entry. His buddies thought they would get in without paying, but no way Jose, they had to pay! From the couple’s fifteen years union, three children were born: Egedio Jr. and twin daughters, Dawn and Michelle. The family moved from Harlem to the Bronx in 1965. It was there where Egedio developed a love for bowling and joined a league at Bruckner Lanes. He was an avid bowler and excelled in the sport, winning many trophies, several for bowling perfect games. Egedio due to his small stature would sometimes be challenged by fellow bowlers for a wager. Initially, he would give his opponent the impression he was an amateur by intentionally throwing a couple gutter balls. He would then move in for the kill and slaughter his opponent (figuratively speaking of course). Egedio also enjoyed dancing in his younger years. From time to time, many Virgin Islanders would converge on the Park Plaza Dance Hall in Harlem during the weekends for an evening of comradery, calypso music and reconnecting with friends and classmates from the U.S.V.I. So, what did Egedio do for a living? After becoming certified as a computer programmer, he was able to embark on his career path and entered the emerging and exciting computer operations field. In 1965 he started out programing computers for small businesses. In 1970, he began working for the Texaco Fuel Oil Company in New York City, which later became Chevron, where he remained employed until retiring in Texas in 2001. During this time, he saw computers transform from a huge piece of electronic equipment that monopolized a room, to computers that filled an entire building, that eventually were reduced small enough to hold in your hand. Egedio retired at age seventy after thirty-one years of devoted, committed, and dedicated service. Many years elapsed since Egedio had seen his children and siblings. However, in July of 2013, thankfully his sister Almeda learned that he was in a nursing home in Conroe, Texas. His second wife Rosemarie had passed away three weeks after they both were admitted the prior year. Egedio’s youngest sister Selita, son-in-law Joseph and his twin daughters Michelle and Dawn drove to Texas to reconnect with him. One could only imagine how elated they all were to see each other. Following this reunion, Michelle traveled to Texas every month to visit her father. She eventually brought him home to Maryland in December of 2013 to live with her and husband Joseph. For the next seven years Michelle staunchly advocated for, managed, and provided excellent around the clock care for her father. Despite his various chronic health conditions, medical needs, and hospitalizations over the years, Egedio persevered. His strong will to live, combined with undying love, care, commitment, and dedication he received from devoted daughter Michelle, all helped maintain and improve his quality of life. As the Lord would have it, and as Egedio desired, on the evening of June 11, he took his final breath peacefully at home with Michelle and Joseph by his side. Throughout his life, Egedio was described as a pleasant, quiet, peaceful, and soft-spoken, man who intentionally shunned contention. He lived a peaceful and somewhat reclusive life with his second wife Rosemarie in their Conroe, Texas home. This kind and gentle man will be forever loved, remembered, and deeply missed. Egedio is survived by three Sisters: Ellean Harrigan, Almeda Washington and Selma ‘Selita’ Victoria, Son Egedio A. Victoria, Jr., Daughters Dawn Victoria, Michelle Victoria Bellard, (Joseph E. Bellard, Jr., affectionally called ‘Bobby’ by his father-in-law), Grandchildren Rudolph ‘Rudy’ X. Sawyer, Jr. (Dawn’s son), Alonzo and Marcus Victoria (Egedio Jr.’s sons), and Olivia N. Bellard and Brenae J. Bellard (Joseph’s daughters) his loving, committed and dedicated caregiver of six years Rhonda Lemon, extended family, friends and a host of nieces and nephews. Egedio is predeceased by his parents Marie ‘Mary’ Delores Natividad Bacque ‘Backer’ Victoria and Alfred ‘Alfredo’ Hypolite “Polo” Victoria brothers; Earl, Lealdo, Alfred ‘Ashley’ and Leslie, sisters; Marilyn Rogers-Torres, and Eleanor Boyd.

Mr. Egedio Alonzo Victoria

January 19, 1932 - June 11, 2021