Salvador Abonal Parco

Dr. Salvador Abonal Parco completed his earthly life on March 25, 2023, at the age of 89 in Logan, Utah. He was born in the San Nicolas barangay in the city of Nabua, in the province of Camarines Sur, Philippines on January 3, 1934, to Eulogio Almazan Parco and Anacleta Dorosan Abonal.

Salvador “Sal” excelled as a student. In 1955, he graduated from the Ateneo de Naga University, a Jesuit liberal arts college, with a bachelor of arts degree in social science and English. In 1963, he finished a master’s degree at Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) in organizational methods and community development. In 1973, he earned a Ph.D. in rural sociology from The Pennsylvania State University.

Dr. Parco used his education to teach others professionally, in his community, and in family and private life. He was actively employed until the age of 80. In the Philippines, he began in 1956 as a community development instructor and training officer. He taught rural sociology at the University of the Philippines Los Banos. He was on the faculty as an associate professor at Ateneo de Manila University teaching behavioral science and as chairman of a graduate department. He also conducted research for the Institute of Philippine Culture, edited the Philippine Sociological Review, and chaired an annual conference of the Philippine Sociological Society. He was sent by the Philippine government to Afghanistan in the summer of 1960 to live among and train Afghans in community development. After he toured many cities in Europe, he returned to the United States where he provided an official report at the Pentagon. Quite fortuitously, he was at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. for the Martin Luther King Jr. march and “I Have a Dream” speech. Sal was up front and close to the Reverend, locking hands with the throngs of people singing “We Shall Overcome.” It is believed that he was the last remaining person from Erie, Pennsylvania, who had been at that historic demonstration of freedom on August 28, 1963.

After completing his formal education, Sal brought his wife Alicia and four children to live in the United States (State College, Pennsylvania). Later, he continued his career as a professor at Penn State Behrend and moved his family to Erie. He also taught classes at Gannon University, Villa Maria College, Thiel College, and Mercyhurst North East. Other employment opportunities included work in the blue-collar sector at General Electric and at American Sterilizer, both companies in Erie. He also worked in the financial services sector at Mutual of Omaha, Prudential Insurance, Waddell & Reed Financial, and Forth Financial Network. His favorite opportunity was as a legal rights educator for Northwestern Legal Services speaking throughout the tri-state region. He concluded his career at Greater Erie Community Action Committee helping individuals increase their financial literacy.

President/Director Parco served the community as an officer, board member, or founder of various organizations: Filipino American Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania (founder); International Institute of Erie, Inc.; Citizens Against Racism in Erie; Family Living Advisory Council of the Erie County Cooperative Extension Service; Erie Neighborhood Watch Council; Voices for Independence; Retired Senior Volunteer Program Advisory Council; Erie County Drug and Alcohol Executive Commission; Independent Council on Aging; Alzheimer's Association of Northwestern Pennsylvania; Lakeshore Community Services; Erie County Coalition of Mental Health Consumers; Forrester's Harbor, Inc.; and Erie City Zoning Hearing Board. He was also heavily involved with local activities: We Love Erie Days; United Way; Glenwood Manor Association; Erie County Coalition of Persons with Disabilities; Northwest Tri-County Right to Education Task Force; Community Support Program in Erie County; Erie Children’s Health Insurance Program Coalition; and NAMI.

Brother Parco was a convert and faithful member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since September 27, 1974. He served in leadership, teaching, musical, and ministering callings in the Erie East Branch, the Erie Pennsylvania District, the Erie Ward, the Erie Second Ward, and the Jamestown New York Stake. In 2011, he and his wife Linda served as Ordinance Workers in the Palmyra New York Temple every other Saturday for three years. In 2014, he and Linda served a 13-month church service mission in the Jamestown Stake of the Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Mission.

Sal was talented in playing musical instruments since the precocious age of five. He was trained by his father on the clarinet, the guitar, and the violin, which he played beautifully until the age of 88.

Survivors of Sal “Badong” / “Papa” / “Lolo” / “Tito Sal” / Great-grandfather] include his wife, Linda Jean Durrant Parco, five children, Laura Parco Koontz (Jan), Farol Parco (Mylene), Maria Parco Evans (Mark), Salvador Parco Jr. (Cindy), William Parco (Mischa), and two stepchildren, Ruth (Terry) and Robert (Nicole). He is also survived by four sisters, Teresita Decrepito, Emiliana Alianza, Gregoria Sto. Thomas, and Anacleta Caroche, a sister-in-law, Corsee Parco, twenty-one grandchildren, and thirty-one great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Maria Claudia, and his two brothers Juan A. Parco and Jose A. Parco. Sal is now united in eternity with his wife of 46 years, Alicia Tan Uy Parco, and his granddaughter Kristina Marissa Castro Parco.

Services will be held on Saturday, April 8, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Larkspur Ward chapel, 94 West 600 South, Logan, Utah 84321. A viewing takes place at 10:00 a.m. followed by a funeral service at 11:00 a.m.

Services in Erie, Pennsylvania, will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Erie 1st and 2nd Ward chapel, 1101 S. Hill Road: a reception at 10:00 a.m. and funeral service at 11:00 a.m. Final resting place and interment will occur at the Wintergreen Gorge Cemetery, 2601 Norcross Road, Erie, Pennsylvania.
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