Jorge R Gonzalez

He was born to parents Carlos Manuel Ramiro Gonzalez of Valencia Spain and Corina Gonzalez Gonzalez of Havana Cuba in Havana Cuba on March 27th, 1944. He came to the United States in November 1961 via the Operation Peter Pan flights and the Catholic Welfare Bureau and settled in Portland Oregon with Rafael and Esther Cancio. He started his secondary education in Havana at Colegio de la Salle in Vedado, Havana and completed the third year there in 1959. He finished his education at Lincoln High School in Portland and graduated in 1963. He continued his studies at Portland State University and received an Associate of Arts degree in Computer Programming. He met Aleida M. Gonzalez and married and had two sons George and Charles. They relocated to Florida in 1975. He loved baseball, music, good Cuban food especially Aleida’s bread pudding or “pudin de pan” and his “pastelitos de guayaba y queso.” He was an avid reader, stamp collector and was actively involved and enjoyed discussing politics and Latin-American baseball. He fulfilled the dream of a lifetime by visiting his hometown of Havana Cuba in December of 2019. Reuniting with family and taking in a baseball game on Christmas day with his hometown team “The Industriales.” He also was the editor of “The Cuba Journal” blog on the Cuban American immigrant experience (from his perspective). He loved spending time with his grandchildren and retired to Winter Haven for the last 10+ years of his life. His ashes will be returned and scattered in Cuba as one of his final wishes.

Jorge was preceded in death by his father Carlos Manuel, mother Corina, brother Carlos and spouse Aida. Jorge is survived by his two sons George R. Gonzalez Jr and his wife Kathleen McGirr of Orlando FL, Charles M. Gonzalez of Lake City, FL: six grandchildren, Juliana McGirr, Brianna Gonzalez, Lilly Gonzalez, Michael Gonzalez, Gabrielle Gonzalez, and Sabrina Gonzalez. Nephews Carlos Alberto Gonzalez and spouse Katiuska, and Jose Raul Gonzalez and wife Madelin, of Havana, Cuba their children Jorge Carlos, Daniela, Carlitico, Iliani, Jaquelin, Yancel and Kelly.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from Noon to 4 pm, Saturday, August 6, 2022, at Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, 994 East Altamonte Drive, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701.