Richard Robinson Gomez

Gomez, Richard R. 93, of Belleair, FL died September 26, 2011 at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater, Florida. He was the devoted husband of J. Eloise (Eisenhuth) Gomez for 66 years. Born March 18, 1918 in New York, New York, he was a veteran of World War II, in which he was a group navigator for the U.S. Army Air Corps, always leading his squadron back to safety. Trained as a mechanical engineer in manufacturing operations, he held a succession of increasingly responsible management and executive positions, retiring in 1981 as executive vice president and member of the board of directors of Zero Manufacturing Co., Burbank, California. He was a resident of Clearwater and Belleair for 41 years. He was an avid, if marginally talented, golfer. However, he was a master negotiator on the first tee when stakes were being bet, and he greatly enjoyed his rounds of golf with many playing partners over the years, including his brother and his two sons. Since his retirement from the business world, he was an active volunteer in local community and charitable venues, serving as a long-time member of the Belleair Board of Finance and president of the Belleair Country Club. Using his design and woodworking skills, for nearly 30 years he made and donated wooden furniture and toys for disabled children in Pinellas County, benefiting the Upper Pinellas Association for Retarded Citizens. Besides his wife, he is survived by sons Ronald and his wife Leslie of East Longmeadow, MA and Michael and his wife Catherine Leonard of Westbrook, CT. He was predeceased by a daughter Diana L. Gilliam of Branford, CT. He leaves six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren for whom he built wooden toddler chairs etched with their names on the chair back; they are treasured by each recipient. Memorial Services will be held on February 24th, 2012 at 6 PM at the Belleair Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane, Belleair, FL 33756, Ph# 727-461-7171. Arrangements are being handled by the Moss Feaster Funeral Home, Largo, FL 727-562-2080. Please feel free to visit our website to share memories, thoughts and comments at www.mossfeasterlargo.com.