George Gonzalez Gonzalez

George G. Gonzalez was born in San Antonio, Texas on the west side. He was raised by Martin S. and Maria Guadalupe Gonzalez, along with nine siblings. George was a mocoso child, an Assistant Manager at Burger Chef by 15 years old, escaped gangs, graduated from high school and then took the GED by mistake instead of the SAT, and cruised on his motorcycle.

George married Angela Martinez, after meeting her in a bar – at the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association for attorneys. Angela directed a free bar tutorial program to help Hispanic law graduates pass the attorney bar exam, and George was one of her students and then a mentor to other students. George proposed to Angela after dating for four months. They were a team and built a loving home together. They were going to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in May 2022. George was the love of Angela’s life.

The greatest joy in life for George was being Dad to Michael and Mikaela. George was proud of Mika and her accomplishments, calling her “Chingona”. George taught Mika that the only person that could get in the way of her dreams was her. Ever since Michael’s Birth Mom Venise entrusted George and Angela to raise him, George and Michael were inseparable. George taught Michael how to be a good man, and was proud of the young man Michael is. George will always be with Michael and Mika, watching over them, and his legacy, lessons, and love will live on in them.

George got from his Dad stubbornness and a deep commitment to Family, and from his Mom a sense of humor and candidness. He absolutely loved being with his seven sisters in Texas! He visited often (just not in the summer). In college, he lived with big sister "Tenchita" and helped raise nephew Bert and niece Lisa (who he later asked to be Mika's Godmother). When in San Antonio, he would stay with sister Linda's family, and enjoyed going to his nephew Robert Allen's land, and sharing stories with his brother-in-law Robert. He loved the really large family gatherings at Easter, Christmas and Thanksgiving at Gracie and Jaime's home, where he would visit with all of his Family. Sister Leti would visit George often, and he enjoyed New Year Eves with her, where he could smoke cigars with his nephews. When he drove in San Antonio, his Chollo would emerge, with wrist just so on the steering wheel and "Ese" accent. He visited his friend Jesse, greeting him with an "Azul" and sharing memories from high school. He didn't mind the endless trips to the Riverwalk, El Mercado, mission churches, Mi Tierra; so long as he could eat the lengua, barbacoa, and carne guisada tacos of Piedras Negras Cafe.

George served in the United States Air Force as a Military Specialist in Texas, California, and Alaska. He was honorably discharged and a proud US Veteran. He was a graduate of San Antonio Community College and the University of Texas at San Antonio, where he majored in Biology. In Idaho he was a backcountry outfitter, and in Montana he built log homes. George graduated from the University of Denver, School of Law in 1993. He was a criminal defense attorney with a solo law practice in downtown Denver. Clients appreciated George’s candid counsel, and George gave a voice in the criminal justice system to his Spanish speaking clients.

George coached mock trial for eight years to elementary, middle and high school students, inspiring some to become attorneys; he recruited minority police officers for the City of Aurora, Colorado; and he often spoke to Latino high school students about going to college. He was outdoorsy and athletic, enjoying camping, hiking, biking, working out at 4 am, and building a treehouse at his mountain property. He was creative, sewing Halloween costumes and Christmas dresses, sewing beautiful quilts for close loved ones and for those who lost loved ones, and painting. He was a family man, singing along to “Mamma Mia!” with Mika, being Michael’s Boy Scouts leader, reading the Bible, making breakfast tacos, and liked being home in his basement man cave. He was adventurous and believed in Big Foot, ghosts, and aliens. He had a big heart, shown though crying at commercials and while watching “It’s a Wonderful Life”, and in how giving he was to his family and friends.

George especially loved being in Texas with his seven sisters and their families: Herlinda and Roberto Llanes and nephew Robert Allen; Leticia and David Lively; Hortencia G. Gutierrez and nephew and nieces Bert, Eliza, Allison and Elliott Araiza, and Lisa Marie Araiza and Carlos, Cedric, and Carlie Rodriguez; Graciela and Jaime Gomez and nieces and nephews Sarah Pearson and Martin, Tarah, Scarlet and Lincoln Gomez; Albert and Rose Hernandez, and Rebecca, Paul, James, and John Castillo; Yolanda Mulqueeney and nephews and nieces Maria and Gene Day and Alannah, Alex, Savannah and Marshall Holmes, Sean and Megan and Elian Day, Erin and Rodrigo Dominguez and Madison and David Kemp, Monica and Jeremiah Martinez, Zachary and Mylah Ahrens, Tyler Mulqueeney, Nicole Mulqueeney and Jeff and Penelope Page; Elizabeth and Gerardo Peña and nephew and niece Katherine and Justin Peña. George loved his brother Jose Luis, and family Dorothy, Jose Antonio, Jose Martin, Gilbert, Jennifer and David; and his Colorado family, mother-in-law Mary L. Martinez; sisters/brothers-in-law Judi and Dave Maestas, and Mike and Mary Lou Martinez; and nieces and nephews Andrew, Elana, Marisa, Jenna, Squeaky, Alicia, and John.

George died suddenly at 63 years old of a heart attack on February 20, 2022. He was where he loved being - hiking the tallest peak on his mountain property. George would say he did not just believe in Jesus, rather he knew Jesus was real and that Jesus had saved him. Now George is with Jesus and happy.

George requested a Catholic memorial service. A prayer rosary and memorial mass will be held on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at 10:00 am at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 11385 Grant Drive, Northglenn, Colorado.

Instead of sympathy flowers, the family respectfully asks that you remember George in your thoughts and prayers.

You may share your memories and expressions of sympathy to the Gonzalez Family at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/thornton-co/george-gonzalez-10599492