Luis Angel LaBoy

Luis Angel LaBoy, age 60, Harrisburg, passed away suddenly Tuesday, August 1, 2017 at his home.

Born December 27, 1956 in Brooklyn, he was the son of the late Luis and Emerita (Acevedo) LaBoy and was a supply sergeant in the US Army and National Guard.  He was also preceded in death by his sister, Lucille.

Luis was the proprietor of Angelo’s Place at the State Capital before retiring in 2009. Prior to that, he was briefly an officer in the NYPD and a Security Officer in New York, at a hospital in Chicago, and many other places.

He received his GED in Chicago, but took the test again after losing his sight in 1994, scoring even higher.  He was active in many groups dedicated to improving the lives of others without sight; was past president of the local chapter of the National Federation for the Blind; assisted in passing legislation to help blind persons get more jobs with the PA Council of the Blind; learned braille, and attended the Guild for the Blind in Pittsburgh.  It was here that he met his beloved wife, Merrily, while they were both learning skills to assist them when they lost their sight.  They continue to call it “their blind date”.

Luis had two wonderful Seeing Eye dogs from Guiding Eyes:  Bella, a Black Lab and Solly, a Golden Retriever.

He studied culinary science at the Hiram G. Andrews Center  in Johnstown.  He loved to cook, especially Puerto Rican food, and would often throw all the others out of his kitchen where he would create beautiful meals.

When he wasn’t cooking, he was an avid bowler with the Blind Bowling League at Red Crown.  Luis loved watching television:  old western shows, MASH, The Brady Bunch, ALF, Big Brother, and many classic game shows and wholesome weekly shows.  He enjoyed many kinds of music;  Elvis, the Beatles and Spanish music.

For a time he was “Mr. Mom”, raising the kids while his wife worked.  They will truly miss his sense of humor, his bad jokes and puns, and especially his cooking.

Surviving is his wife of almost 20 years, Merrily (Burgess) LaBoy; his children:  Juan “JJ” Solis (and his wife, Amanda), Sarasota, FL, Joseph LaBoy (and his fiancée, Lizzy Norton), Durant, OK, Krystal Cotter (and her husband, Joe Smith), Chicago, Damian Josef Walker (and his fiancée, Ashlynn Estrada), Harrisburg and Aaron Lee Walker, Harrisburg; 9 siblings:  Jose Pedraza (and his wife, Nerada), Old Bridge, NJ, Manuel Pedraza (and his wife, Alice), Kunkletown, PA, Julio Pedraza (and his wife, Edga), Manhattan, Carmen Pedraza, Chicago, Theresita Rivera (and her husband, Reynaldo), Bethlehem, Rosa Castro, (and her husband, Mercedes Pabon), Allentown, Virginia LaBoy, Jersey City, NJ, Raul LaBoy (and his wife, Yvette Rentas), Allentown and Elsie LaBoy (and her fiancé, Vincent Wright), Bethlehem; 6 grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and many other friends and family members, all of whom will miss him dearly.

A memorial service will be held 1:00 pm Friday, August 4, 2017 at Harrisburg Brethren in Christ Church, 2217 Derry Street, Harrisburg, with the Rev. Glenn E. “Woody” Dalton, Jr., officiating.  Friends will be received at the church from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm.

Due to severe allergies, flowers are to be omitted, and contributions are respectfully requested to be sent to the funeral home to help defray expenses.

Services will also be held 11:00 am Tuesday, August 8, 2017 at Bachman, Kulik & Reinsmith Funeral Home, Allentown, where there will be a viewing at 10:00 am.

Burial will be in Cedar Hill Memorial Park, Allentown.

Kimmel Funeral Home, 2001 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17103, is handling arrangements.