Jorge Mario González

JORGE MARIO GONZALEZ ZAMORA, MD tragically passed away on the 22nd of August 2009 at the age of only 56. Dr. Gonzalez was born on the 17th of February 1953 to Jorge Mario González Salvatierra and Madga Judith Zamora de González in Guatemala City, Guatemala. On the 15th of November 2008, he married his soul mate, Charleen Chuke at their ranch in Bellville, TX. They were blessed with a baby boy, Mario Raphael Gonzalez and a second unborn baby boy due on Dr. Gonzalez's birthday. He graduated with his MD from Universidad de San Carlos in Guatemala City, Guatemala in 1977. Also at Universidad de San Carlos, he did his residency in Internal Medicine. He later attended Baylor College of Medicine where he completed his fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine in 1983, in Internal Medicine in 1985 and in Critical Care in 1986, all of which he is board certified. Dr. Gonzalez then received dual academic appointments at both the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center as a Clinical Assistant Internist, and the Baylor College of Medicine as a Clinical Instructor in the Pulmonary Section. He became an Assistant Professor in the Pulmonary Section at Baylor two years later. Dr. Gonzalez's research has been published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, and he has presented at numerous scientific sessions. He later began his private practice. As prestigious of a man he was, he was a man of simple ways. Dr. Gonzalez frequently gave his son stroller rides to the park and loved eating his wife's homemade chicken soup. He spent nearly every Saturday at his ranch in Bellville with family. He would constantly arrive with a truck load of mulch, cow cubes and new trees to plant. He was proud of his tractors and other ranch equipment. In addition to his hobby of ranching, he loved his precious race cars. He has been an active staff member at The Methodist Hospital for over 20 years. He proudly held the position of Secretary of The Medical Staff and Chief of Clinical Critical Care. He was a member of the Executive Committee, Medicine Committee, Pulmonary & Critical Care Committee, Infection Committee, Residency Program Committee, Critical Care Committee, Pharmacy & Therapeutic Committee, Emergency Medicine Committee and Record Committee. In addition to his many committees, he was a member of The Methodist Research Institute in which he conducted clinical trials that his wife helped to build. He was also a member of The Methodist Neurological Institute in which he cared for ALS and MDA patients. He is predeceased by his father, Jorge Mario González Salvatierra. He is survived by his mother, Madga Judith Zamora de González; his beloved wife, Charleen Gonzalez; his young son, Mario Raphael Gonzalez; his daughter, Rita Lucía Garcia-Prats and David Garcia-Prats; son, Jorge Mario González Jr.; son, Juan Mauricio González and Jenny Cechan; brother, Juan Manuel González and Dora Luz González; sister, Judy González de Solís and Estuardo Solís; brother, Carlos Fernando González; grandchildren, Anthony Aaron González, Gabriela Marie Garcia-Prats, Matías James Garcia-Prats; and nieces and nephews. His family, friends and colleagues will remember his loving, genuineness, honesty, respectfulness, humorous, hardworking and determined ways. Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from five o'clock in the afternoon until eight o'clock in the evening on Friday, the 28th of August, in the Jasek Chapel of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. The recitation of the Holy Rosary will commence at seven o'clock. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at ten o'clock in the morning on Saturday, the 29th of August, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway in Houston. Immediately following the service, the family will gather for a private entombment service. In lieu of usual remembrances, the family requests contributions be directed to the Jorge Mario Gonzalez Children's Educational Fund, c/o The Bank of River Oaks, 2929 Kirby Drive Houston, TX 77098. For additional information, please contact Mark Troth at 713.275.4907.