William "Willie" Arroyo's Obituary
William (Willie) Arroyo was called to the Lord, Friday, December 4, 2020 after a lengthy and courageous struggle with Alzheimer’s Disease; he was 73 years old. Willie was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico on February 12, 1947 and moved to Lorain, Ohio in 1955 when he was 8 years old. He developed a love for his new hometown while, at the same time, maintaining a special place in his heart and pride for his Puerto Rican heritage and culture.
Willie graduated from Admiral King High School in 1965. He continued his education at The Ohio State University where he earned a Bachelor of Education degree with a concentration in Spanish, and then in 1978 he obtained his Master’s Degree in Social Work from Columbia University. Willie was a proud U.S Army veteran who served his country as an Artillery Specialist-4 during the Vietnam War.
On October 11, 1975 Willie married the love of his life, Iris Davila, and together they built a strong family foundation centered on faith and love. He began a long and fulfilling professional career as a summer employee at U.S. Steel to pay for college, and then held a variety of servant leadership positions at El Centro Social Service Agency, Oberlin College, the Community Foundation of Greater Lorain County, and the Murray Ridge Center. He was also a faithful and beloved member of Sacred Heart Chapel in Lorain.
Willie was certainly successful with his endeavors in education and social work, but it paled compared to his impact as a community organizer and activist. He found his purpose, with a group of dear friends, in advocating for those less fortunate and in fighting injustice and discrimination. He was a founding board member of El Centro de Servicios Sociales (an agency that continues to serve the community 46 years later). Years before that, Willie and his friends opened one of the first after school programs in Lorain at an old Lawson’s Store. He was instrumental in preserving the Puerto Rican Home as a viable, community-owned organization, and in the initial stages of creating the Hispanic Fund.
Willie’s quiet and unassuming manner, void of any need for recognition, and his personal integrity, courage and dignity endeared him to the Latino and Lorain community. All will continue to benefit from the sacrifices and example that he left for generations to come. Willie lived his life as a servant, opening his heart to many, and will be remembered as a kind, humble, generous, and loving family member and friend.
Willie will be dearly missed by his wife, Iris Arroyo (nee Davila) and his daughter Marisa Arroyo Kaszas (Joseph), his son Steven Arroyo and his grandchildren Adrain and Armani Arroyo, Mariangel and Iris Milagros Urbina, Joel Urbina (who he loved like a son) and Siblings; Carmen Perez, Iris Arroyo, Attorney Angel (Cookie) Arroyo, Nelson (Sally) Arroyo, Nilda Fonseca (Carlos), Tony (Ermy) Arroyo, Judy (Chris) Dembinski-Arroyo, Edward Arroyo (California), along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving parents Secundino and Petra Arroyo.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 from 4pm to 7 pm at the Dovin & Reber Jones Funeral and Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday, December 9, at 9:30 am at Sacred Heart, officiated by Rev. Father William Thaden. A private burial will be held at a later day.
In lieu of flowers, donation in Willie’s honor can be made to Border Angels, 2258 Island Ave., San Diego, CA. 92102 or to Sacred Heart Chapel, 4301 Pearl Ave., Lorain, Ohio 44055.
Due to COVID -19 pandemic the funeral home will be following specific guidelines to ensure the safety of all the visitors. Face covering are required. Limited seating will be provided for the service to ensure that a six feet separation in maintained.
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