Manuel Gonzalez

Manuel Gonzalez, 73 years old, of Miami Florida, also known as Kooky to those closest to him, passed away on December 11, 2020 after suffering a heart attack.

Manuel was born in Matanzas, Cuba on May 24, 1947 to parents Manuel A. Gonzalez and Digna Perez Gonzalez. In 1955 he left his homeland and moved to Miami, FL where he lived throughout the rest of his life. Even though he was never able to return after 1960, he carried Cuba within his heart.

The most important thing to him was his family and everything he always worked towards was with his family in mind. He is survived by his beloved wife of 48 years, Isabel “Chavela” Gonzalez Rojas, their two children Alexandra Gonzalez Burke and Cristobal Manuel Gonzalez, his granddaughter Marina Mercedes Burke, sons-in-law James V.V. Burke and Dave Smith and sister-in-law Maria Rojas.

Manuel graduated from Miami Senior High in 1966, where he ran Track for their Varsity Team. He earned his Associates in Science from Miami Dade College and graduated from University of Miami School of Engineering and went on to become a Professional Engineer in the State of Florida along with multiple other states. He was proud of his profession and always said that there was nothing else he would want to do. This was evident if you ever saw him on a job site.

He was a dedicated friend and though an only-child he felt he had brothers in his closest friends. He was an avid sportsman tackling a wide range of sports: running, cycling, fishing, diving, skiing, golf and even at one point jai-alai. He had a wide range of intellectual curiosity and was always immersed in a history book, appreciating and collecting art and listening to music.

He leaves a huge void in the lives of those who loved and knew him.

A burial for Manuel will be held Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 11:15 AM at Woodlawn Park North, 3260 SW 8 ST, Miami, FL 33135. Following the burial will be a funeral mass at 11:30 PM at St Raymond Catholic Church, 3475 SW 17 St, Miami, Florida 33145.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.riverofuneralhomemiami.com for the Gonzalez family.