Victor M. Marrero, 79, PGW guard

Victor Manuel Marrero, 79, a former Philadelphia Gas Works employee, died Tuesday, Oct. 18, of dementia at Temple University Hospital.

"Vitín," as the Philadelphia resident, was known to friends, was born in Orocovis, Puerto Rico. Raised by an aunt, he was taken out of school at a young age so he could go to work.

"He was so smart that his teacher cried the day that he left school," said daughter Carmen Marrero Rojas.

Mr. Marrero relocated to New York in search of advancement. He worked in the textile industry before moving to Philadelphia, where he was employed by the Philadelphia Gas Works as a security guard.

Despite a lack of a formal education and growing up in poverty, he considered himself rich in the love of family, friends, and neighbors. He was especially proud of his Puerto Rican heritage.

Mr. Marrero's keen mind and gift of gab were well known in his social circle. He kept up on local, national, and world news, and on topical issues in the fields of religion and music. He read the Bible and the newspaper daily.

"If he engaged you in conversation, you had better bring your lunch and perhaps your dinner, too," his daughter said. "He loved to talk."

He enjoyed The Three Stooges, wrestling matches, and singing old Puerto Rican boleros and salsa music.

"He had a great sense of humor and a contagious smile on his face that roped you in," his daughter said. "He befriended everyone he met."

In addition to his daughter Carmen, he is survived by his wife of 39 years, Edna Padilla; daughters Ana and Wanda; sons Victor Jr. and Wilfredo Marrero; stepdaughters Carmen Soto and Norma Rivera; seven grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. An infant son, stepdaughter Ana Irma Gonzalez, granddaughter, and his former wife, Santina Nieves, died earlier.

Services were Tuesday, Oct. 25.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation via www.alzfdn.org.

bcook@phillynews.com

610-313-8102