Sergio H. Vera, a former long-time resident of the Pennridge area, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 11, 2013, at Phoebe Richland Health Care Center, Richlandtown. He was the beloved husband of the late Christie C. (Nellis) Vera for 57 years until her death in 2009. He was 86.

Born in San Fernando, Chile, he was the only child of the late Sixto and Maria (Marambio) Vera.

In 1944, Sergio entered the Escuela de Grumetes, the training school of the Chilean Navy. He served on numerous ships and attended several Navy specialty schools. He came to the United States in 1951 as a crew member of a WW II cruiser being overhauled at the Philadelphia Navy Yard after its lease to Chile by the U.S.

In Philadelphia, Sergio met Christie Nellis at a USO dance. They married in 1952 and settled in Hilltown in 1954.

Mr. Vera trained as a barber in the early 1960’s and ran his own shop in several locations in Perkasie and Sellersville, ending with Sergio’s Hair Styling, at Glenwood Village. He retired in 1987, and the Veras relocated to Chile for 12 years. Since their return in late 1999, they had lived in the Quakertown area.

He was a former member of St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, Perkasie, where he was a Luther League advisor and was also a scout master with Troop 11.

Mr. Vera founded the original Pennridge Community Day in 1972 and continued his involvement until the mid-1980’s.

He was instrumental in introducing organized youth soccer to the area, managing team for various age groups with the “Yellowjackets” and later, “Pennridge United,” which became the first local team with female players.

Sergio was a member of the Pennridge Rotary, serving as chairman of the foreign exchange student program. He and Christie opened their home to students from many countries, including India, Brazil, South Africa, Iceland, and Switzerland.

He also served with the Pennridge Chamber of Commerce, the Glenwood Merchants’ Association, and the Nockamixon Action Group (NAG), which was instrumental in the lake clean up.

Mr. Vera was also a very active member of the Chilean Association of the Delaware Valley. He organized clothing drives for Chilean earthquake relief when needed and also facilitated the donation of medical equipment to hospitals in Chile.

While in Chile, he was actively involved with the International League Against Epilepsy and belonged to several sailing clubs.

A self-published writer, he penned two books in Spanish about his life in Chile and the United States.

Mr. Vera is survived by his only child, Janet, of Northport, Maine. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, Richard B. Morrison, in June.

Janet wishes to thank her life-long friend, Joy Neubert Meyers, of Trumbauersville, for the time and support she gave to Sergio since Christie’s passing, visiting him regularly while he lived at Independence Court in Quakertown and seeing him through several hospitalizations and his stay at Phoebe Richland since December. Janet also thanks hospice nurse, Gabi Neske, who cared for both Christie and Sergio in their final months with gentle humor and great grace.

A memorial service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 21, at the Betty Meier Steeley Funeral Home, 87 North Main Street, Sellersville, PA 18960. Friends may call from 6:30 p.m. until time of service at the funeral home.

Interment will be private at the convenience of the family.

If desired, memorial donations may be made to the VNA Hospice of St. Luke’s, 1510 Center Parkway, Suite 200, Bethlehem, PA 18017 or to Phoebe Richland Health Care Center, 108 South Main Street, Richlandtown, PA 18955.

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