Paul Joseph Gomez

Paul Joseph Gomez, 83, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 20, 2023 in Greenwich, NJ. Born Pablo José Ramón Gomez y Santalla in Palmira, Cuba, he was the son of the late Galo Gomez and Ana Lilia (née Santalla). Paul is survived by his wife of 57 years, Kathleen Willa (née Gordon); his five children, Sha (Tim Olivo), Leslie (Kelly Hartmann), Paul (Angela), Joseph (Mechell), and David (Ellie); his son-in-law, Richard Sax; his seven grandchildren, Andrew, Leah, Ryan, Rachel, Callie, Dominick, and Jacob; his sister, Yara Padron (Gustavo), of Miami, Florida; his Miami family, Susie Weddle (Jorge), Susanita Weddle, Kristin Reyes, Carolina Weddle, and Jackson Reyes; and his first "kids," Skip Durbin, Ida Johnson, and Rich Sponaugle (Paula). Paul also parented the peers of his children and grandchildren, dishing out sage advice, wisdom and quick-witted one liners.

Referred to affectionately as José, as a young boy, Paul was beloved by his parents, his sister, and all who met him. He often shared stories about the Cuba of his childhood, the pranks he played on his neighbors and teachers, the beauty of the countryside and beaches, and the joy of growing up on a sugar mill. His family marveled at his tall tales of showing up the older students - at the age of 4 - in the one-room school house where his mother taught, stroking the belly of a bull to induce him to lay down, "chaperoning" his sister on her dates, and flying an airplane as a teenager. Paul came to the United States to attend college in southern Florida and was very proud of making the Dean's list despite the challenges of learning English as a young college student.

Paul left Cuba for the last time in the summer of 1959 and became a naturalized U.S. citizen in the 1960s. After the forced loss of his home country, he embraced and deeply appreciated America's freedoms and values. Paul lived in Florida, Maryland, and New Jersey, where he enjoyed participating in community sports and activities with his children, hunting, cooking and giving back to the community. It was often said that the Gomez house had "elastic walls" that accommodated many short and long-term guests and visitors. During his career, Paul worked in the hotel and hospitality industry, in association management, and as an in-home caregiver for the elderly. He was most proud of his work as an educator and public speaker, engaging audiences by talking with them, not at them.

Paul was especially proud of his children and grandchildren. He and Kathleen raised them to be humble, self-sufficient, kind and loving. Paul's life embodied Edwin Markham's quote, "There is a destiny which makes us brothers; no one goes his way alone. All that we send into the lives of others, comes back into our own." His kindness was rivaled only by his sense of humor and the mischievous twinkle in his eye. He often opined, "Life would be nothing without humor." He was known for making children laugh with his Donald Duck impression, loved bawdy limericks, and if you knew him well, you knew the next line in "oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling, Clementine . . ." would make even the most stoic burst into laughter.

In lieu of services, the family will be holding a celebration on June 17, 2023, in Dunkirk, MD to honor his life and his legacy.