Valeroso Macapagal Saradpon, 79, of Goose Creek, SC, passed away Friday, May 12, 2017.
Valeroso was born August 5, 1937, in Binakayan, Kawit, Cavite, Philippines. The fourth of nine children of Froilan and Felipa Saradpon (nee Macapagal). He is predeceased by oldest brother Amigo and younger brother Recto. Surviving siblings are Perla Petry (married to Edward), Buena (Biening) Guevara (married to Narciso), Florentina (Tina) Cayanan (married toErnesto), Esther Dinio (married to Arsis), Froilan Jr (Jun) married to Lisa, and Veronica (Vicki) McElwee (married to Charles).
Valeroso is survived by his wife Tess, and daughters Jean Saradpon and Lei Saradpon-Wong (married to Walter Jr) and son Jeff Saradpon. Also surviving are son Hector Saradpon (married to Elizabeth) and daughter Grace Saradpon Morreale (married to Gerald), from 1st wife and physician, Lourdes (deceased Feb 2011). Valeroso was blessed with seven grandchildren: Lorigin, Sean, Hailey, and Chase (from Jean) and Jun Winter (from Lei) Andrew and Morgan (from Grace).
He retired from the US Navy in 1977, in Sykesville, Maryland, after sailing around the world, serving honorably for 20 years. He survived 2 tours of Vietnam as part of the Seabees, US Navy Construction Battalion (CBs) and served on several destroyers and the aircraft carrier, USS Intrepid and enjoyedposts-of-duty at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD. His good looks even landed on him on a 70s-era US Navy recruiting poster, with handful of other smiling, laughing sailors in white uniforms, on the Naval Academy football field, gathered around a handsome vintage motor car, with the phrase "Sailors Have More Fun" emblazoned on the poster.
After retiring from the Navy, Valeroso returned to the Phlippines and indulged in his love of enjoying seafood, healthy-living, automobile repair and maintenance, high fidelity stereo and video and photography. He enjoyed fishing and crabbing and continually educating himself informally and formally, eventually earning an Associates Degree, and started his second family with Tess at his side.
Valeroso's culinary skills in the kitchen was well-known and hard-earned from his Navy years. He could whip up the best-tasting French Toast, juiciest pan-fried steak and finger-lickingest fried chicken faster than you could say "Who's the Best in the West" aphrase that he thoroughly enjoyed soliciting from amazed onlookers as he quickly put together, arguably, the best short-order cooked meal on the either side of the Mississippi.
From his experiences as a filipino-child survivor of World War II and as a Navy sailor, Valeroso knew the valuable, practical lessons of being prepared and nimble enough to face life's adversities,natural disasters and weather emergencies. He made sure his families knew how to deal with hurricanes and snow blizzards in America and typhoons and floods in the Philippines.
He moved back to the US with his second family, eventually happily settling in Goose Creek, SC because of the southern hospitality and proximity to the military bases and VA hospital (always the practical man).
If not for an unexpected and brief but fierce battle with liver cancer, Valeroso would still be with us today to enourage us to properly maintain our vehicles and avoid, if possible, eating too many artificial colorings and food preservatives, that would have made him happy. Who's to say that Vietnam's Agent Orange didn't play a role in the late-onset of the liver cancer that took away this very clean-living sailor. He never smoked and only rarely sipped anything alcoholic.
Valeroso, thank you for your dedication to always bettering yourself and helping others to help themselves, and for your military service and valor (your name is derived fromthe Spanish description of one who is brave and valient, after all). Who knew that he would join the local Knights of Columbus just a month before his passing? Rest in peace, dear Valeroso, caring husband, father, son, brother, loyal friend, teacher, appreciator of automobiles, electronics and photography, and the best darn cook we'll probably ever know.
Funeral services for Valeroso will be held Thursday May 18, 2017, in the Chapel at Charleston Cremation Center & Funeral Home, located at 2054 Wambaw Creek Road, Charleston, South Carolina.The family will receive friends and family at 10:00 AM until the time of service.
Arrangements in care of Charleston Cremation Center & Funeral Home. |