On March 23, 2023, at approximately 4:09 p.m. God selected among his chosen laborers Evaristo Quiñones, Sr., 76, of Philadelphia, PA to come into the vineyard and enjoy eternal rest. Evaristo passed away peacefully after a difficult battle with multiple myeloma.
Evaristo was born on July 5, 1946, to Luis Manuel Quiñones García and Margarita Rivera Muñiz in the town of Utuado, Puerto Rico. Evaristo was one of the seven Quiñones children who later moved to Jersey City, New Jersey: Clotilde, Luis, Lydia, Miguel, Samuel, Evaristo and María. After graduating from Ferris High School in Jersey City, NJ in 1964, Evaristo received an associate degree from St. Peter's College and later pursued a Certificate in Horticulture from Penn State University. After graduation, he worked in real estate for several years in Jersey City, before moving to the Philadelphia suburbs and later pivoting to a career in landscaping. Evaristo was a passionate entrepreneur and loved what he did for a living as it gave him the chance to connect not only with people, but also with nature. In 1968, Evaristo met Elba Torres Colón (Duca) in Brooklyn, NY. Evaristo and Elba went on to have two children, Elvita Quiñones Torres and Evaristo (Tito) Quiñones, Jr. Evaristo was passionate about his native county Puerto Rico and its culture. He loved antiques, flea markets, salsa music and dancing, prominent Puerto Rican political figure Pedro Albuzi Campos, and legendary Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente. Known for his hearty laugh, Evaristo was a revolutionary at heart and lived his life with a zeal for bucking the establishment and societal norms. Evaristo is survived by two sisters: Lydia Quiñones Rivera of Bayamón, Puerto Rico and María Quiñones Rivera of Parlin, NJ; two children: Elvita Quiñones Torres and Evaristo (Tito) Quiñones, Jr., both of Philadelphia, PA; two grandsons: Xavier Alejandro Smith Quiñones and Angel Quiñones, both of Philadelphia, PA; nephews Eduardo Muñoz of Hillsborough, NJ and Napolean Muñoz of Syracuse, NY; niece Samaira Quiñones of Bronx, NY; and great-niece Zhani Christina Muñoz Grove of Hillside, NJ, and a host of additional beloved family and friends.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend his prayer service at Kirk & Nice Funeral Home, 80 Stenton Avenue, Plymouth Meeting, PA on Friday, March 31, 2023 at 2:30 PM. A viewing will be held from 1:30 PM Friday afternoon at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, his children request you consider a donation to the Fairmount Park Conservancy or to Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation in his memory.