Guillermo Abella Cabacungan Jr.

Guillermo Abella Cabacungan Jr. passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family and friends on July 24, 2020, at the age of 89. He was born in the city of Sinait, Ilocos Sur, in the Philippines on June 6, 1931, the son of Guillermo Ponce Cabacungan Sr. and Pastora Abella Cabacungan, both of whom were university professors. Guillermo Jr. graduated with honors and distinction at the top of his class from National University in Manila, Philippines, earning dual degrees in Mechanical and Electrical Engineering. During this time, he met the love of his life, Nelly Manglicmot Reyes, a high school English teacher from Camiling, Tarlac, in the Philippines. They married on April 23, 1958, at St. Paules Catholic Church, San Marcelino, Manila. Seeking new opportunities, the couple immigrated to the United States with their older five children in July 1967. Guillermo Jr. and Nelly became lifelong residents of Hamilton, Ohio, where they raised their nine children who attended Hamilton City Schools. Hired by the Kornylak Corporation, Guillermo Jr. was promoted to various levels of responsibility throughout his career as a mechanical and electrical engineer, culminating as Chief Engineer in which he oversaw the construction and installation of conveyor systems for commercial and national defense purposes. Guillermo Jr. possessed unwavering faith in God as a dedicated member of St. Peter in Chains Catholic Church for over 51 years. He served as editor of the parish newsletter, The Good News. Being very proud of his Filipino heritage, he also enthusiastically participated and held leadership roles in various Filipino groups around the Tri-State area, including the Bukas Loob Sa Diyos (BLD), St. Joseph 55, and Filipino Association of Southwestern Ohio (FASO). Guillermo Jr. gave his passion and loyalty to the Hamilton community, as shown by his active engagement in various local organizations. As a member of the Rotary Club of Hamilton, he served as chairman of the oratorical and essay committees for Hamilton City Schools and as a Rotary Science Fair judge. He also played an active role in Vision 2020 focusing on the growth and development of Hamilton’s future. Guillermo Jr. strongly encouraged academic excellence not only for his children but also for the educational communities in which they were involved. He was an avid fan and tireless supporter of Hamilton High Big Blue, especially the high school’s Fine Arts department and its show choir, Rhapsody in Blue. He volunteered regularly for The Ohio State University Extension of Butler County with the high school personal finance program. With two sons graduating from the United States Military Academy in 1984 and 1994, he was also a proud member of the West Point Parents Club of Southwestern Ohio. Despite his extensive community involvement, Guillermo Jr. was a giving man and unselfishly made time to attend his children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s numerous academic recognition ceremonies, graduations, school music concerts and piano recitals, theater productions, dance recitals and skating competitions, sporting events, scouting activities, pageants, oratorical contests, and soap box derbies, not to mention help them with various school projects. As a result, Guillermo Jr. and Nelly were named by the Hamilton Community Foundation as Grandparents of the Year in 1985. He shared his love of God, engineering, music, gardening, fishing, crossword puzzles, chess, the Cincinnati Reds, and traveling around the world with his family. Always with a camera in hand, he relished taking a myriad of photos at all his events and activities which will now hold countless memories as his legacy continues. He is survived by Nelly, his faithful wife of 62 years; nine loving children, Gigi (Thomas), Genevie, Guillermo III (Alma), Gina (Mark), Gemma (Don), Georgette (Alan), Gerald (JoAnn), Ginger (Chris), and Glenn; 26 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and numerous relatives throughout the United States, Canada, Guam, Australia, and the Philippines. He is predeceased by his parents, Guillermo Sr. and Pastora; two children, Gladys and Geoffrey; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Visitation will be held at Brown-Dawson-Flick Funeral Home, 330 Pershing Ave., Hamilton, Ohio, on Thursday, July 30, 2020, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be held the same day at St. Peter in Chains Catholic Church, 382 Liberty Ave., Hamilton, Ohio, at 12:00 noon, followed by a procession to his final resting place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Montgomery, Ohio. Out of respect for the family’s wishes and in adherence to the Ohio Governor’s mandates, guests should follow face mask and social distancing guidelines at all locations. In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted for St. Peter in Chains Catholic Church, 382 Liberty Ave., Hamilton, Ohio, and Shriners Hospital for Children.