Mauricio Parra

STOUGHTON - Mauricio Parra, age 62, of Stoughton, Wis., passed away peacefully on May 2, 2025. He was born May 25, 1962, in Queens, N.Y., the son of Latino parents (Carmen) Mabel de los Santos, of Argentina, and Guillermo Parra, of Colombia.

Mauricio moved with his mother to California as a preschooler and graduated from Torrance High School in 1979. A proud graduate of University of Southern California, he graduated in 1983 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and completed some graduate work in cinema production. He later earned a certificate in graphic design from the University of California-Berkley.

While living in San Francisco, Mauricio experienced several life changing events - the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989 and the births of his daughters, Marina and Catalina in the early 1990s. As an involved parent, he created “Daddy’s film school,” traveled with them to Japan, supported their evolving hobbies and interests and used his experience as an admissions officer to help guide their college admissions journeys years later.

Mauricio worked as a graphic artist until 2001. On-the-job formal training to assist with Y2K coding changes led him to a new career. He worked as an IT consultant for many years, learning the Salesforce software language along the way, until eventually joining Salesforce, Inc. in 2012. He liked what he did and often found ways to bring humor to his morning stand-up meetings.

Show business was in Mauricio’s blood, and he shared a flair for drama with his maternal grandmother, Carmen Valdez, who was a radio personality and film actress in Buenos Aires. Between 2003-2006, Mauricio produced Cherry Pop Burlesque shows in Madison, Wis. As the mustachio’d impresario Lonnie Tiburon, he emceed the shows and took part in skits. CPB was one of the headline acts at the Capitol Theater for the Overture completion celebration. Many performers credit him and CPB for how they found a new passion and craft.

As a man of many interests, he led a full life. He was a licensed pyrotechnician and assisted in setting up several displays for the UW Band’s Spring concert. He traveled to Europe, Australia, Argentina and Japan. He was raised bilingual in Spanish and English, studied French in school and learned some Japanese. Using books, manuals, the Internet, subject matter experts and forum boards, he learned plumbing, electrical, welding, cabinetry making, painting, staining, car restoration and anything else he needed to complete projects he undertook. He loved to cook, and his mother-in-law referred to him as the family's private gourmet chef. The attached “outdoor kitchen” expanded his cooking repertoire even further. He took part in several chili cookouts with his nephew Chandler Miller and was always chasing the elusive perfect pizza.

Mauricio and his future spouse Lu Ann first met in 2003 at a Habitat for Humanity worksite, but it wasn't until late 2010 that they were able to start dating. They married on September 19, 2015, in Stoughton, Wis. Their heritage foods of empanadas and Cornish pasties were served at their reception. They enjoyed fall vacations in Door County, completing home renovation projects, retail therapy and spending evenings at home with their fur babies, Nikko and Katsu. In the fall of 2016, Mauricio renovated the family room/old dentist office into a mother-in-law suite for Lu Ann's mother, Sue.

In October 2024, he suffered from a ruptured brain aneurysm, quietly present his whole life, and likely hereditary as his maternal grandmother died from one. As with many brain injuries, it was always unknown as to the recovery outcome. The next seven months were filled with many highs, too many lows and a lot of time in between. He died surrounded by the love of family.

He will be remembered for his generous spirit, his humor, his love of octopuses and the many ways he bestowed affection onto his loved ones.

Remaining to cherish Mauricio's memory are his wife, Lu Ann O'Connor; daughters, Marina Parra (Dan Pencoske), Pittsburgh and Catalina Parra Volkova (Anton Volkov), Madison; mother, Mabel de los Santos, Louisville; brother, Klaus Nowakowski (life partner, Jen Arneson), Greater Los Angeles, Calif.; the daughters’ mother, his ex-wife and continued friend, Linda Camillo, Madison; mother-in-law, Sue Williams O'Connor; father-in-law, Dan O'Connor; brother-in-law, Danny Gourley; half brothers and sisters; other in-laws; and many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

Preceding Mauricio in death are his sister, Andrea Nowakowski; father, Guillermo Parra; his grandparents; and his fur babies, Sneakers, Phantom and Katsu.

A celebration of life will be held at VINTAGE BREWING COMPANY, 674 S Whitney Way, Madison, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 18, 2025. Appetizers will be available.

Memorials may be made to Midwest Shiba Inu Rescue (MSIR) (www.shibarescue.org), FairShare CSA Coalition (www.csacoalition.org), Second Harvest Food Bank (www.secondharvestsw.org) or your favorite animal cause.

Online condolences may be shared at www.gunderson.com.

Gunderson Stoughton
Funeral & Cremation Care
1358 Highway 51 at Jackson
(608) 873-4590