Ricardo Manuel Gonzales

Ricardo M. Gonzales, 86, of Winnetka, CA, passed away on January 26, 2025. Born on November 26, 1938 in the Philippines to Leoncio and Potenciana Gonzales, he was a devoted husband to Susana, a loving father to Sarah, Karl, and Leonard, and a generous grandfather to Ethan, Sophie, Gabi, Lucas, Gigi, and Jude.

After graduating from the Mapua Institute of Technology in the Philippines, in 1962, Dad became an architect who specialized in building homes. He immigrated in January 6, 1981 to the US, just having made it 44 years in this country. He retired from the City of Thousand Oaks in 2008, after completion of

the Community Transportation Center Building for which he was one of the Project Managers.

He might’ve looked like a serious fellow, but to many who truly knew Dad, he was a playful guy who enjoyed telling jokes and playing pranks. He was notorious for giving people one-of-a-kind nicknames. For example, his nicknames for his children were Kurike [Ku-ree-keh], Chekwe [Che-kweh], and Chakulele [Chaku- leh-leh]. How he came up with these, or what they even mean is beyond

explanation, but said a lot about his imagination. Dad was also known to many as Ric, Baby, Diko Babes, Tito Babes, Tito Ric, Andando, or Kitect [Ki-teck] which is short for Architect. What those outside the family don’t know is that he was also known as Liryo II (named after his own father). Dad wrote poems in

Tagalog, often given as gifts to his siblings, mother and wife.

Besides gardening, Dad loved reading and drawing inspirations from his Architectural Digest magazines. He loved to draw, paint, and even dabbled in scrapbooking. He was a D-I-Y type of guy who can MacGyver” his way into fixing almost anything at home. He loved his trusted Datsun 200 SX that he used

to haul supplies from Home Depot, which he drove to the ground. His love for music ranged from Harry Belafonte to the Three Tenors.

Dad was also generous to family and relatives. Not only did he shower his grandchildren with love, he also helped many relatives in the Philippines by contributing to their health or education. Whether it’s helping a niece or nephew with college, or providing aid to a sibling, Dad can always be counted on.

He is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, as well as many friends and extended family members who will miss him dearly.

To honor Dad’s memory, a viewing will be held at Gates, Kingsley and Gates Mortuary on Thursday, February 6, 2025 from 4pm-8pm. Funeral service will be at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church on Friday, February 7, 2025 at 10:00 am. His final resting place will be at Oakwood Memorial Cemetery.