Guillermo Cotto

Guillermo “Willie” Cotto was born on July 12, 1933 in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He was the fourth of seventeen children of Eustaquia Rodriguez and Nazario Cotto. Willie attended primary school and high school in Puerto Rico. In search for work, Willie came to the United States at the age of 18 years old in 1951 to live with his elder sister, Yolanda in Manhattan. In 1955 he married Elena Gonzalez Green and had six children, Myrna born in 1956, Jose “Joey” born in 1960, Carlos “Charlie” born in 1962, David born in 1963 died in 1965, Helen “Anita” born in 1963, and Eduardo “Eddie” born in 1964. Coming from a devout Catholic family, Willie made sure that all his children attend Catholic Schools. On his sole salary, Willie successfully graduated all his children from St. Cecilia’s Grammar School, Power Memorial Academy for the Boys and St. Pius High School for the Girls. To put it in perspective: to support his family, he paid tuition, books, fees, uniforms, and schools supplies for all his children from 1962 when Myrna started first grade to Eddie’s last year in high school in 1983 - 21 years on his salary only, as Elena was the homemaker!

When Willie arrived in the United States he worked as a baker and then worked for over 35 years with the Burry Lu Company, a Division of Quaker Oats as a chief maintenance officer of the huge ovens that produced various baked goods such as the “scooter pies” and “girl scout cookies”. Willie worked six days per week his only day off was Sunday. He retired in 1996 from the company.

Willie was gifted athletically playing in the 1950’s with a baseball club minor league team that was affliated with the Baltimore Orioles. He was a catcher and first baseman. He would remind people that he played with major leaguers like Joe Foy and Juan Pizarro. Willie transitioned into softball in his 30s, 40s and even age at 50, becoming a tremendous soft ball player once winning the batting title with a .589 batting average. Willie loved to take his wife and children to Ward’s Island, Randall’s Island, Riverside Park, or Central Park to watch him play and see him hit those line drive shots on a “frozen rope” of over 300 feet. During the winter months, Willie bowled in a league at the old stadium lanes near Yankee Stadium or the Yorkville Lanes in Manhattan. Willie was an excellent bowler winning various individual and team titles. Willie always took his sons Joey and Charlie to watch him bowl.

Willie was a devout Catholic working for over 40 years at the Masses on Sunday mornings for St. Lucy’s Church and St. Cecilia’s Church. Even until his last days he attended mass every day at St. Catherine De Siene.

Willie was proud of his service with the United States Army receiving an honorable discharge in 1964. After his retirement and until his death, Willie was active with the American Legion, holding various office titles. When he was not performing his legion duties, he would be at home watching his beloved New York Mets, New York Jets, or listening to his country music like Johnny Cash or Puerto Rican Folk Music.

Willie was a hard worker;  and, he persevered and sacrificed for his family. Despite the setback of tragically losing his 2 year  old son David, he continued to work and provide for his children, putting them in private school, making sure they had food, and clothing. He was also a disciplinarian. He had no choice: he was raising 5 kids in East Harlem in the Lehman Village Projects. He leaves behind his wife, 5 children, 8 grandchildren, 5 great grandchildren, and his remaining living brothers and sisters.

Like all humans on this earth, our backgrounds, often unsaid and unspoken, and forced upon us not by choice but by circumstance, shape who we are.  We do not judge, we let go, and find solace in the good left behind.  In that spirit, Willie was not perfect in life.  However, his legacy is his children-all successful professionals, that all love one another, look out for another, are generous to each other and their families.  Children that understand the meaning of sacrifice, love, hard work, and integrity.  We pray that this will bring him peace at his next stage. He will be missed by all but never forgotten.

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