VICTOR VILLACORTA

1938-2021

Victor “Vic” Villacorta,

82, passed away on January 29, 2021, in Houston due to COVID-19 complications.

Vic was born in Tacabamba, Cajamarca, Peru on April 16, 1938, the youngest of four children of Segundo Villacorta and Josephina Orrego Villacorta. He immigrated to New York City in 1960 at the age of 22 and joined the U.S. Army in 1962. He was sent to the 5th Training Regiment at Ft. Dix, NJ. After Basic, Vic was deployed to Bad Kissingen, Germany serving under the 14th Armored Cavalry Regiment. He contributed to the success of the U.S.— U.S.S.R. border mission and was awarded a lifetime honorary membership in the 2nd Squadron 14th Armored Division for outstanding service while engaged in border operations. Vic was awarded the Good Conduct Medal for completing three years of service receiving an honorable discharge from II Corp upon completing his tour.

After discharge, Vic was employed as a counselor at Mount Loretto Boys Home on Staten Island where he met his wife, Christine Bishko. They married in 1966 in Broadalbin, NY and moved to Willimantic, CT where he attended Eastern Connecticut State University. Vic received a BA in History in 1970 and was a four-year member of the varsity soccer team and co-captain his senior year. He continued towards a Master’s Degree in Spanish Literature at the University of Connecticut where he was a teaching assistant.

Learning Vic was going to be a father, he chose to provide for his growing family and left school to enter the work force. After being hired at Aetna (aka Cigna), he was transferred to Houston in 1971. Following a successful career in the insurance industry, Vic formed his own business, which he was active in until his death.

Vic was involved in youth soccer and coached the Blue Stars for many years. He was an avid sportsman playing soccer, tennis, and golf. He played softball with KIKK Radio for many years and later joined a senior softball league. Vic enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and BBQing on his custom smoker. He loved sharing these activities with his family and friends where he was the life of the party.

Vic was active in local professional organizations: Houston Claims Association and Houston Mariner’s Club. He was an avid soccer fan never missing a game of his favorite teams Manchester United in the international arena and MUNI in Peru.

Vic was preceded in death by his sister, Clotilde Barron Villacorta and her husband, Fernando; brother, Wenceslaus Villacorta Orrego; beloved nanny, Mama Lula; in-laws, Konstantyn and

Sophia Bishko of Broadalbin, NY; brother-in-law, Peter Bishko of Albany, NY; and brother-in-law, Orest Bishko of S. Windham, CT.

Vic is survived by his wife, Christine (Bishko); son, Adrian Villacorta; daughter, Juliana Villacorta all of Houston; sister, Myra Ferreyros Villacorta and her husband, José of Lima, Peru; sisters-in-law, Marcella Villacorta Ostolaza of Lima, Peru; Sherry Bishko of Saratoga, NY; Charlene Bishko of N. Venice, FL; sister-inlaw, Irene Galadza and her husband, Rev. Roman, of Brampton, Ontario Canada; brother-in-law, Igor Bishko and his wife, Carol, of N. Venice, FL.; along with numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and nephews, and a multitude of cherished friends in Peru, Canada and the United States.

Vic will remain in our hearts as a devoted husband, loving father, fun uncle, and true friend to many. As Vic wrote in his college senior yearbook, “laugh and be well,” his motto until the day he left us.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. preceded by visitation at 9:00 a.m. followed with a Rosary at 9:30 a.m., on February 9, 2021, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6802 Buffalo Speedway in Houston. The services will also be livestreamed on St. Vincent’s YouTube Channel (St Vincent de Paul Houston, TX). Burial services with military honors will take place at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in New York.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Wounded Warrior Project (https://woundedwarriorproject.org) are requested. For more information or to leave a condolence for the family, please visit josephjearthman.com.