RIP ADOLFO CARRION SR.

City Island Images wishes to offer our friend and neighbor Adolfo Carrión, Jr. our most sincere condolences following the death of his father Adolfo Carrión Sr., who has died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He was an honorable and a spiritual man of the cloth.

The Reverend Dr. Adolfo Carrion, Sr. faithfully served as a pastor and was director of the Education Department for Assemblies of God from 1966 and until his retirement in 1999, he was Superintendent of the Spanish Eastern District, where he supervised more than 300 churches in the northeastern part of the United States.

Twenty four hours later the Carrión Family sent City Island Images the following statement "It is sad to announce the death of Rev. Dr. Adolfo Carrión, who passed away on Friday, September 5, at 11:39pm, at the home of his daughter Elizabeth, in Montebello, NY. He was surrounded by his immediate family. Adolfo was 79 years old and had been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer only two months prior. He is survived by his wife Elisa; his four children Elizabeth, and her husband Kevin Stevens, Adolfo, and his wife Linda Baldwin, Damaris, and her husband Isham Harris, and Lizette; and his ten grandchildren, Jacqueline, Raquel, Alexandria,Rebeccah, Sara, Brittney, Olivia, Benjamin, Christiane, and Adolfo James “AJ”.

Adolfo Carrión was born in Juncos, Puerto Rico on December 8, 1934, to Adolfo Carrion, II, and Carmen Garcia de Carrión. He was the tenth of twelve children born to this marriage. In 1950, Adolfo moved to New York City and worked in a variety of jobs, including diamond setting in New York City’s Diamond District. Within a few short years, Adolfo gave his life to God and the ministry. In 1962, he became a pastor of a church on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and by 1967, was elected the leader of that church’s organization, the Spanish Eastern District of the Assemblies of God, as Superintendent. He went on to serve in this capacity for almost 40 years. Rev. Dr. Carrión shepherded and grew the organization from 47 congregations in the NYC metro area to more than 360 congregations in Eastern United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. While Superintendent, he envisioned and brought to fruition a 120 acre camp in the Catskills, Camp Manahaim, which served as the home for a new Bible college, ministers’ retreat, and summer camp for children.

In recognition of his life’s leadership, work, and service, Rev. Dr. Carrión was awarded, among other recognitions, honorary doctoral degrees from Fuller Theological Seminary, New York Theological Seminary, Valley Forge Christian College, and Nyack College, and was also presented with the Keys to the City by then New York City Mayor Koch.

In the course of his long career, he presided over the Association of Interdenominational Pentecostal Leaders, Radiovisión Cristiana, the Assembly of God Bible College of Puerto Rico, and the NYC Christian Children’s Parade. He also served on numerous executive boards, including NY Theological Seminary, the NY Council of Churches, Teen Challenge, Esperanza USA, Valley Forge Christian College, New Hope USA, Concerts of Prayer, and the National Prayer Breakfast. He was also founding chairman of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition.

At the time of his death, Rev. Dr. Carrión was serving as Pastor of Ebenezer Church in Newark, NJ.

Viewing and Memorial Service: Tuesday, September 9th (Viewing 12-5pm, Service 7pm), The Christian Cultural Center, 12020 Flatlands Avenue, Brooklyn, New York.

Private Interment: The historic Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, NY.

In lieu of flowers donations can be made to The Christian International Relief Organization, World Vision, specifically for Latin American and Caribbean efforts. Kindly indicate in honor of Rev. Dr. Adolfo Carrion". World Vision P.O. Box 9716 Federal Way, WA 98063

According to his church bio, Adolfo Carrión, Sr.participated in organizing the denomination’s Spanish Districts in Puerto Rico and in Florida. He organized two Districts, the District of Puerto Rico, Assembly of God, and the South Eastern Spanish District of Florida. He served in many different leadership roles including president of the Association of Latino Superintendent, Assembly of God; President/Organizer of the Association of Interdenominational Pentecostal Leaders; Executive President Teen Challenge, Puerto Rico; Executive Director Bible College of Puerto Rico Assembly Of God; Executive Director, Radio Vision Cristiana which covers the Northeast area of the U.S., Puerto Rico, Santo Domingo and Ecuador; Executive Director, Christian Children Parade; Trustee, Valley Forge Christian College; Executive Member, New Hope USA; and Executive Member, A.M.E.N. International Evangelical Leaders.

His son, City Island resident Adolfo Carrión, Jr. unsuccessfully ran for NYC Mayor last year with a political plank to "Make It Your City". Previously he served in the Obama administration and was also Borough President for The Bronx.

A reliable source told City Island Images that he was grieving with his mother and other family members in Rockland county. The Puerto Rican politician, NYC business owner, husband and father of four children continues to make City Island his home.

Adolfo Carrion, Sr. Received Spirit Award: http://youtu.be/ZGqBbp8lfNY