Miguel Ligon Abelardo

It was a very sad early morning when Miguel (Mike) peacefully passed away in Los Angeles, California on June 12, 2023 at 5:18 am surrounded by his immediate family. He was there for a short period of time from Santa Barbara where he resided for nearly 26 years. He and his wife Teresita (Tita) chose Santa Barbara to join Tita’s siblings and family. But on February 2000 the love of Mike’s life passed on. Their lifelong journey together started as high school sweethearts, married at 27 after knowing each other for over 10 years. An event that had been one of Mike’s most favorite stories to tell, which most everyone he knew heard at least once, was in 1954 when he went through a series of milestones. He graduated from medical school, took his Philippine board exams, had a wedding to marry his beloved soul mate, then took a 24 hour flight on a turbo prop refueling 3x from Manila to New York City for his medical internship, all occurring on practically the same week! In NYC he was affiliated with Bellevue, St. Lawrence and St. Clare’s Hospitals. A year later his bride joined him to live in a high-rise apartment in Manhattan. He fondly reminisced of walking to Times Square in the morning for a hotdog & orange juice for just 35 cents before going to work. Their first daughter, Diane was born a year later and shortly after the three of them moved back to Manila. Five years later their second child, Jocelyn was born in Quezon City. They were surrounded with a huge family, Mike having ten siblings and Tita six! Unable to forget and longing for life in the States, they soon realized their dream. The family of four immigrated to St. Louis, Missouri in 1966, and joined his best friend Tony’s family. From there they moved locally a few more times to the suburbs of Afton, Ballwin, Manchester and ultimately Chesterfield before they moved to Santa Barbara after his retirement. Mike and Tita enjoyed many vacation travels together worldwide, they had regular potluck dinner gatherings with close knit friends and they both watched NBA basketball together on TV to name a few. He was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball, religiously followed Wimbledon tennis and The Masters & Ryder Cup Golf Tournaments and even played an occasional game of golf. He developed a love for gardening, growing fruit bearing trees including a cherimoya tree that he had cultivated from a seed because Tita loved its fruit so much. He also grew “peach-pink” color roses that he harvested and walked over to the cemetery to place next to her grave. He possessed great concern for his family and relatives and quick to give help and advice whether welcomed or not. His genuine care was ever present. Mike’s family and friends will truly miss this kind, generous, and selfless child of God. He was such an inspiration to his family that followed him. He was survived by his daughter Diane, husband Dean, children Brandon & Andrea and also daughter Jocelyn, children Miguel & Mark. Mike was born in Ilocos Norte, Philippines, a quaint province north of Manila, son of Basilio Abelardo and Timotea Ligon. He is the youngest and last to join his departed brothers and sisters, Jose, Alfonso, Manuel, Juan, Felicidad, Pablo, Rosita, Rudolfo, Anastacio and Augusto. We will miss you dearly Papa, Pop, Grandpa, Lolo, Tito Mike and dear friend. You are now in the loving care of our Lord. May your soul and the souls of all our faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. And may the brightest perpetual light shine upon you forever and ever! We love you so very much!

Miguel Ligon Abelardo

September 29, 1927 - June 12, 2023