Angelo Velasco Pizarro
December 14, 1957 - December 15, 2024
Obituary
Angelo was born December 14, 1957, in Santa Maria, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, to Fulgencio “Gen” Dosono Pizarro, and Mercedes Velasco. He is the fourth son of five boys; Leonardo “Boy”, William “Willi”, Wilfredo “Babot”, and Benjamin “Benji”. Angelo immigrated with his family to Seattle in 1970 when he was 12 years old, to join their father who had immigrated a couple of years earlier. So not only had his family embarked on their journey from Sta. Maria to Seattle, but he was also on his own journey from a boy to a young man. It was a pivotal time in his life for other reasons too, when two, seemingly chance, encounters would change his life story. Angelo started school at Sharples Junior High School in south Seattle where he had planned to take up the saxophone like his father before him. But the saxophone was not available. He recounted later walking into a music room there filled with acoustic guitars, and decided he would give it a try. The other chance encounter was a 14 year-old girl… of course. It was 1972, and he had just started the 10th grade at Rainier Beach High School. Angelo retold his love-at-first-sight story about a head of hair that he spotted walking to her bus. It was long, dark, wavy and beautiful… just like his mom’s, and knew he just needed to meet her.
After the world’s longest-recorded courtship, Angelo and Annette were finally married on August 11, 1984. Both Annette and Angelo began their careers at the U. S. Postal Service, where Angelo was a clerk, a fixture at Wallingford Station, retiring after 23 years of service. Alongside his postal career, Angelo continued to pursue his passion for music, which touched the hearts of many.
If he were here, Angelo would tell you that July 4, 1989 was one of the happiest days of his life, when he and Annette welcomed their son, Joshua Alexander. Angelo was overjoyed and so proud to be Josh’s dad. Through his quiet example, Angelo modeled for him how to be a loving husband, devoted father, and loyal friend. Angelo exemplified “family first”, and loves all of you; brothers, sister, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.
When Angelo felt he could not be happier, Joshua would give him the greatest gifts of all. Annette and Angelo welcomed their daughter-in-law, Esther Kim into their lives, so happy that Josh had found such a strong, smart, and generous partner to be at his side. Together they blessed Angelo with the apples of his eye, his comfort and joy; Maxwell, Emmery, and Nova. They brought laughter, hugs, and noise into the house, and so much joy to Angelo’s heart.
Angelo is survived by his wife, Annette, his son Joshua, his daughter-in-law, Esther, his grandchildren, Maxwell, Emmery, and Nova. He is also survived by his brother Benjamin (Norma), brother William (Juvilyn), and sister, Annamary (Santino), and many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, cousins, nephews, nieces, grandnieces, and grandnephews.
