Matthew R. Gonzalez

Matthew was born March 16, 1989 in San Diego, California. He always loved cars and soda. Later on in life it was diet coke, always diet coke. He was a happy baby and loved to laugh and smile. He had two years before his younger sister Candy came along and five years after that a younger brother named Brandon. Matthew was all about his family. He loved all of his grandparents and always kept his Tata in his heart. He use to help papa with the gardening, mommy with cooking eggs. Matthew was always the first kid up on Christmas day, always wanted to make his parent breakfast in bed with coffee. As Matthew began to get older he moved closer to Nana on Morningside Street. There he made amazing childhood friends Ian, Courtney, Jessica and Jenny. The summer days were spent playing power ranger, sneaking into the backyard of a “haunted” house on the street, exchanging pokamon cards and riding bikes. One time his dad took him and his sister on a bike ride all the way from that house to the Star of India. He went to Robert E. Lee Elementary with his cousins and sister. The side hill adjacent to the school had slick paint on it and he would slide down on his butt. He went to Bell Junior High same as his parents. And when he got to high school he tried Steele Canyon but soon realized he was a Monte Vista Monarch and switched schools. Matt went out for football At this time he lived at Calavo Woods and he was part of a close knit group of friends with his sister always trailing behind him whether he wanted or not. He met life long friends there Steven, Alex, Gabe, and Ramon. Steven`s family was Matt`s second. He did everything with Steven and this is when Matt was really figuring out who he was and what he liked. The summer days were spent jumping hills, sitting on an electrical box, jumping off roofs into pools. As well as playing guitar and listening to music. He went to comi-con and met Claudio from Coheed and Cambria and got his John Handcock. He moshed it up with Steven at concerts. Matt had no fear, one day he came home with his handle bars in his arm and some teeth broken from jumping his bike. Matthew had a heart of gold and was always trying to help others. He was always there for his friends and family. The reason why Matt loved bikes was because of his Uncle Chris. Matt was the son he never had he got Matt into BMX racing, his room was covered with trophies. He raced at cactus park with his loving family always watching him and cheering him on. One day he started to early and the gates at the start had not come down yet and he flipped over his bike, but he always got back up and just laughed it off. From Calavo Woods he moved to Dennis Lane, little did he know just down the street then was Alicia, the future mother of his daughter Maya. He rocked out in his room with his amp up. Had posters all over his walls and family guy on the back of his door. He loved the dogs we had there Giovanni and Sophia. Matt always turned to butter in the presence of babies or animals. He went back to school after having to leave Monte Vista and got his high school diploma so he could go into the marines. Matt joined the Marines in 2008 and put everything he had in him to complete the training. He was joined by his loving family at MCRD after completing boot camp. He knew everyone was extremely proud of him. Uncle Chris had gotten Matt an American flag made in the USA and from that day on Matt took it anywhere he went. He was so excited to leave base and go get some real food. Matt was all about his food, he loved his Mexican food and diet coke. He picked Claim Jumper in Grossmont to eat at and that night was filled with laughter and love around the table. When Matthew left the Marines and came home he decided to move out to Arizona and spent time with his Uncle Chris and family out there. Matthew eventually made his way back home and when he came back he soon began to date Alicia Hoffa. A few months later Matthew was on his way to being a daddy. June 26, 2011 Matthew and Alicia welcomed Maya Maria Gonzalez. Matt named her Maria after his Aunt who was always there for him, to show his gratitude and his love for her. Matt videoed the birth of his precious baby girl, and helped keep track of Alicia`s breathing. Holding Maya for the first time was the highlight of Matthew`s life. In that moment everything was perfect. He was all smiles. Matthew`s life wasn`t done yet. So many more memories were meant to be made. He will watch over Maya and Alicia and all of his family as their guardian angel. Matthew will forever be in our hearts and will live on through us each day.