Newburyport, MA- Died peacefully at age 102 on December 6, 2023, surrounded by family and the caring staff at Port Healthcare Center in Newburyport, MA. Known as Guillo, he was born in 1921 near Salinas, Puerto Rico to the late Ezequiel Mateo and Estervina Mateo Serrano. Second youngest of ten children, Guillo spent his childhood on his family’s farm, where his father was manager for the largest estate on the island, overseeing plantations of sugarcane, corn, bananas, and pineapple, a coffee plantation in the mountains and a large cattle ranch down below. During those years Guillo developed a lifelong dislike of horses and farm animals. Nevertheless, decades later at age 88, in a typical show of solidarity, Guillo joined his son, two grandsons, and their parents for an afternoon of horseback riding in the Teton mountains of WY. He didn’t like to be left behind.
Despite early “rambunctious” academic years, when one of his older seven sisters was held back to keep him from skipping school, Guillo graduated high school as valedictorian and attended the University of Puerto Rico. He was then awarded a full scholarship to transfer to the University of Chicago, where he earned a B.S. in 1944 and a degree in Medicine in 1948, graduating first in his class. There he met his beloved wife of 63 years, Grace (Bunnie), who was attending classes at the Medical School while completing her Master of Science degree. They became lab partners, fast friends, and later partners in medicine. After completing his residency in internal medicine, Guillo served as an officer in the Air Force in the Korean War. There he lived and practiced emergency medicine in a MASH unit on the front line and was the personal physician for the highest ranking General in Korea. To better understand the experiences of the fighter pilots in his care, Guillo volunteered to fly missions with them and ended up wounded in action during one flight. Guillo was awarded a Bronze Medal for heroic service in a combat zone.
Guillo and Bunnie settled in St. Paul, MN, where Guillo built a thriving private practice for a diverse community of area residents. He was beloved by his patients, for whom he cared regardless of their ability to pay, often returninghome from late-night house calls with gifts of food, handmade furniture, or toys for his own children. Later, Bunnie joined his practice as one of the area’s early nurse practitioners. Together, they taught as instructors at the University of MN’s Nurse Practitioner program.
A fiercely curious self-starter, Guillo read books to learn to plumb, paint, rebuild, and rewire the Victorian house they bought for their family of three children. He taught himself to cook, sail, fix car engines, and play great tennis. After being told by his ski instructor that he would never learn to ski, Guillo hit the books and became an avid skier. He joined his young grandsons in WY for his last season of skiing at age 86, and played tennis into his mid 90’s. He would not be left behind.
Guillo tolerated his wife’s love of jazz, but he was passionate about classical music. He fervently studied composers and amassed a significant music library. A true audiophile, he taught his children the magic of opera by muting the TV’s volume so that he could listen to Puccini while explaining the finer points of play during NFL football games. Guillo loved photography, working outside, and a heated political discussion, but he most cherished sitting quietly on the deck at their lake house in northern MN, enjoying a sunset and a glass of sherry with Bunnie.
Guillo and Bunnie retired to Tega Cay, SC, where they were renowned for bringing together old friends and new neighbors of all ages over wonderful meals they cooked together. They gathered young adults under their wings, supporting and encouraging their careers and interests. They enjoyed traveling, especially visiting their grown children and grandchildren around the U.S. and in Russia. A devoted grandfather, Guillo loved to play games and family tennis with his three grandchildren, enthusiastically attending their school, music, and sporting events.
After Bunnie passed away in 2012, Guillo moved to Newburyport, MA to be near his daughter’s family. In his final years Guillo lived at Port Healthcare Center, where the staff became loving extended family to him. His family will be forever grateful for the kind care he received there. Guillo is survived by sons William (Tanya) of Moscow, Russia, John Mateo of San Francisco, CA, daughter Victoria (William) Mateo Lincoln of Newburyport, MA, and three beloved grandchildren, Polina Mateo, Mateo Lincoln, and Samuel Lincoln. A celebration of Guillo’s life will be held in St. Paul, MN, in June, 2024. We deeply miss Dad’s zest for living his best life, his sparkling eyes, and his hilarious Guillo-isms.
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