Joseph Edwin Gonsalves, Jr., aged 94, passed away on July 4, 2024, in Boulder, Colorado. Born on April 28, 1930, in Washington D.C., Joseph led a life marked by dedication, service, and the joy of family.
Joseph served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 and was deployed to Korea with Easy Company, 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. He served with distinction, earning among others, the Combat Infantry Badge, the Korean Service Medal, and the United Nations Service Medal. He attained the rank of Sergeant and fought in the battles for the Iron Triangle, some of the fiercest fighting of the War. Due to his experiences in the Korean War, Joseph authored and published the book " Battle at the 38th Parallel-Surviving The Peace Talks at Panmunjom".
After the War Joseph completed his degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland College Park, setting the stage for a distinguished career. He dedicated many years as a mechanical engineer at the Boeing Vertol Company in Philadelphia. Throughout his thirty plus year tenure at Boeing, his focus and expertise were on safety and crash survivability. He met many pilots who gave him credit for saving their lives. In 1968 he volunteered to join a three-man team to evaluate Boeing helicopters in Vietnam, spending several months flying combat missions with Army and Marine Corps units. He was later part of the core engineering team that developed the V-22 Osprey, an innovative aircraft that can take off like a helicopter and transition in flight to a fixed wing plane.
Joseph holds several patents, two of which are of particular note. First is the self-sealing gas tank which doesn’t explode when penetrated by a projectile The second is the hydraulic strut seat that protects the occupants from receiving all the G- forces at once in a crash significantly increasing the occupant’s chance of survival.
Joseph’s personal life was filled with activities that brought him joy and relaxation. He was an avid sailor, skier, and golfer. His love for traveling the world was only paralleled by the time he cherished spending with his family.
He leaves behind his beloved wife, Margaret Butcher, and children, Linda Harper (Skip), Joseph Gonsalves (Diane), Karen Irons (Jim), Michael Gonsalves (Laurie), and Katherine Burke (Wayne). Joseph was a proud grandfather to Michael, Jennifer, Mia, Madeline, Jeremy, Forrest, Scott, Chris and Colin , and also enjoyed the company of many great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.
Joseph was preceded in death by his wife of 52 years, Laura Downes Gonsalves; his parents, Joseph Edwin and Marion Dewey Gonsalves; and his siblings, Madeline Johnsen, Donald Gonsalves, and Arthur Gonsalves.
Joseph Edwin Gonsalves, Jr.'s legacy is carried forward by his family and all who knew him, embodying a life well-lived with courage, passion, and love.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 11AM Saturday, August 3, 2024 at Crist Mortuary Chapel, 3395 Penrose Place, Boulder, CO 80301.
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