Gregorio Marquez Olinares Sr.

May 25, 1927 - August 6, 2024

Obituary

Gregorio Marquez Olinares, aged 97, passed away peacefully on the morning of August 6th at 1:50 a.m. at his residence in Frederickson, Washington, where he lived with his daughter, Rose, and son-in-law, James.

Born in Villasis, Pangasinan, Philippines on May 25, 1927, Gregorio, affectionately known as Gorio, was the oldest of four siblings. At a young age he was already well-known in his community as both a “walking dictionary” and the “Mathematician of Villasis,” completing his secondary education at PCI and pursuing higher education at the University of the Philippines where he earned an Engineering degree in Geodetic Sciences.

Gregorio married Adriana Rabara, with whom he had nine children: Natividad, Gregorio Jr., Leonor, Aurora, Rosario, Brenda, Gil, Gerardo, and Joselito. After Adriana’s passing, he married Elena Rapanan and relocated to California, USA, in 1972. First coming on his own then ultimately settling in Seattle, WA where he and his wife sponsored his children to immigrate, and where he spent the remainder of his life. He and Elena were then blessed with three more children: Jayvee, Marie, and John. Later, he worked hard to solidify a position in Engineering for King County – passing multiple tests and ultimately succeeding in securing a job.

Gregorio was deeply passionate about mathematics and was widely recognized for his extensive knowledge and eagerness to learn. He also enjoyed tending to his home garden and traveling the world, staying mentally sharp throughout his life, first through his signature humor, then by fervently reading and by doing puzzles everyday like Crosswords, KenKen and Sudoku. Gregorio is survived by seven of his children, twenty grandchildren, and twenty great-grandchildren, all of whom cherish his memory and miss him dearly.

A witness cremation will be held with his family, followed by a Celebration of Life for close friends and family on September 14th at his home in Frederickson.

A heartfelt message from Gregorio’s grandchildren: “Papa, your sacrifice, talents, and unwavering determination have not gone unnoticed. You will be forever missed in our daily lives and in our hearts. We hope that one day, when we meet again, you can ‘tell us bout’ the good ol’ days.’ We love you.”