Jaime Léon Gomez
March 8, 1933 ~ October 16, 2022
Jaime Léon Gomez
March 8, 1933 – October 16, 2022
Jaime Léon Gomez passed away peacefully with his family by his side in Reston, Virginia, on October 16, 2022, following complications from a stroke.
Born March 8, 1933, in Tunja, Colombia, Jaime was the son of the late Jose Gregorio Gomez and Rosa Maria Gomez de Rodriguez, and the fifth of six siblings. He spent his early years in his beloved hometown of Tunja, graduating from Colegio Jose Joaquin Ortiz in 1950, then earning a Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the National University School of Medicine in Bogota in 1956. Following medical school, Jaime completed his residency in general surgery at San Juan de Dios Hospital in Bogota and served as an instructor in general surgery at his alma mater for one year before moving to Boston, Massachusetts in 1964 to complete a residency in general surgery at the Lahey Clinic.
Jaime married his first wife, Maria Elvira Garcia in 1966 in Bogota. After brief staff appointments at hospitals there and in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Lynchburg, Virginia, he accepted a position as a staff surgeon at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Danville, Illinois, where they moved in 1969. He would go on to serve as an attending surgeon at Saint Elizabeth Hospital and Lakeview Memorial Hospital, and open a private practice specializing in general, thoracic and vascular surgery. He was especially proud of their three children, Deana Calvelli of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Armando Gomez (Amy Fox) of McLean, Virginia, and Jim Gomez (Stacey) of Brooklyn, New York, who they raised in Danville. In 1988, Jaime moved to Rockford, Illinois to work as a trauma surgeon at Saint Anthony Medical Center and begin a new chapter in his life.
Over his more than four decades of practice, he was active with the American Medical Association, the United States Colombian Medical Association and the Interamerican College of Physicians and Surgeons. Throughout his career Jaime was dedicated to continuing education and sharing medical developments with his colleagues. He was well-regarded by his peers, patients, and their loved ones for his kindness and compassionate bedside manner. But his thoughtfulness extended to those he met in everyday life as well.
In 1996, Jaime married Maria Cecilia Gonzalez. A few years later, he retired from medical practice, and they moved to Leesburg, Virginia to be closer to Jaime’s children and his six grandchildren: Anthony Calvelli, Alexander Gomez, Daniel Calvelli, Justin Gomez, Eva Gomez and Liv Gomez.
During their twenty-six years of marriage, Jaime and Maria Cecilia enjoyed traveling the world and visited 56 countries together. He took great delight in the simple pleasures of life and had a deep appreciation for art, music, dancing, photography and literature. He loved exploring Virginia’s historical towns, going for scenic drives through the country, and taking in the vistas from the balcony of the condominium where he and Maria Cecilia moved after his stroke. In his younger days, he enjoyed tennis, golf, and swimming. And he loved to watch Duke basketball games and the Colombian national football team (“Los Cafeteros”) whenever he could. But nothing made him happier than the time he spent with his children and grandchildren.
The day after his 85th birthday, Jaime suffered a debilitating stroke. During the ensuing four and one-half years, his loving wife was always by his side, encouraging him as he worked with numerous therapists and with support of his caregivers to regain functions lost as a result of the stroke. Jaime handled the challenges of his recovery with grace and strength, always with a smile on his face and a positive disposition. He loved showing off his ability to take a few steps, or more recently, zoom around in his new motorized wheelchair. And it was not uncommon for him to say on any given day, “Today is the happiest day of my life.”
He is survived by his wife, Maria Cecilia Gomez, his children, grandchildren, his brother, Hildebrando Gomez, several nieces and their families, and the mother of his children, Maria Elvira Gomez.
A private funeral mass will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Vienna, Virginia, followed by a celebration of life. Interment will be held at Jardines de Paz in Bogota, Colombia. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the American Brain Foundation or the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
March 8, 1933 – October 16, 2022
Jaime Léon Gomez passed away peacefully with his family by his side in Reston, Virginia, on October 16, 2022, following complications from a stroke.
Born March 8, 1933, in Tunja, Colombia, Jaime was the son of the late Jose Gregorio Gomez and Rosa Maria Gomez de Rodriguez, and the fifth of six siblings. He spent his early years in his beloved hometown of Tunja, graduating from Colegio Jose Joaquin Ortiz in 1950, then earning a Doctorate in Medicine and Surgery from the National University School of Medicine in Bogota in 1956. Following medical school, Jaime completed his residency in general surgery at San Juan de Dios Hospital in Bogota and served as an instructor in general surgery at his alma mater for one year before moving to Boston, Massachusetts in 1964 to complete a residency in general surgery at the Lahey Clinic.
Jaime married his first wife, Maria Elvira Garcia in 1966 in Bogota. After brief staff appointments at hospitals there and in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Lynchburg, Virginia, he accepted a position as a staff surgeon at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Danville, Illinois, where they moved in 1969. He would go on to serve as an attending surgeon at Saint Elizabeth Hospital and Lakeview Memorial Hospital, and open a private practice specializing in general, thoracic and vascular surgery. He was especially proud of their three children, Deana Calvelli of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, Armando Gomez (Amy Fox) of McLean, Virginia, and Jim Gomez (Stacey) of Brooklyn, New York, who they raised in Danville. In 1988, Jaime moved to Rockford, Illinois to work as a trauma surgeon at Saint Anthony Medical Center and begin a new chapter in his life.
Over his more than four decades of practice, he was active with the American Medical Association, the United States Colombian Medical Association and the Interamerican College of Physicians and Surgeons. Throughout his career Jaime was dedicated to continuing education and sharing medical developments with his colleagues. He was well-regarded by his peers, patients, and their loved ones for his kindness and compassionate bedside manner. But his thoughtfulness extended to those he met in everyday life as well.
In 1996, Jaime married Maria Cecilia Gonzalez. A few years later, he retired from medical practice, and they moved to Leesburg, Virginia to be closer to Jaime’s children and his six grandchildren: Anthony Calvelli, Alexander Gomez, Daniel Calvelli, Justin Gomez, Eva Gomez and Liv Gomez.
During their twenty-six years of marriage, Jaime and Maria Cecilia enjoyed traveling the world and visited 56 countries together. He took great delight in the simple pleasures of life and had a deep appreciation for art, music, dancing, photography and literature. He loved exploring Virginia’s historical towns, going for scenic drives through the country, and taking in the vistas from the balcony of the condominium where he and Maria Cecilia moved after his stroke. In his younger days, he enjoyed tennis, golf, and swimming. And he loved to watch Duke basketball games and the Colombian national football team (“Los Cafeteros”) whenever he could. But nothing made him happier than the time he spent with his children and grandchildren.
The day after his 85th birthday, Jaime suffered a debilitating stroke. During the ensuing four and one-half years, his loving wife was always by his side, encouraging him as he worked with numerous therapists and with support of his caregivers to regain functions lost as a result of the stroke. Jaime handled the challenges of his recovery with grace and strength, always with a smile on his face and a positive disposition. He loved showing off his ability to take a few steps, or more recently, zoom around in his new motorized wheelchair. And it was not uncommon for him to say on any given day, “Today is the happiest day of my life.”
He is survived by his wife, Maria Cecilia Gomez, his children, grandchildren, his brother, Hildebrando Gomez, several nieces and their families, and the mother of his children, Maria Elvira Gomez.
A private funeral mass will be held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Vienna, Virginia, followed by a celebration of life. Interment will be held at Jardines de Paz in Bogota, Colombia. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the American Brain Foundation or the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation.
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Jaime, was my oldest brother. He was proud of being a doctor and loved to serve those in need. I recall talking with him about a surgery he did for a neighbor of us in which he helped him to save his knee and foot. Later on, he performed a heart surgery on one of our nieces, and he enjoyed knowing she recuperated well.
At the beginning of his medical studies in Colombia, he wanted to be a Neurosurgeon, but he found out he loved to be a General Surgeon. I know, he was successful and happy.
While in Bogota, he was assisting a patient who had heart surgery; he had to leave for the evening and when he returned in the next morning, he found out that all the machines that were connected to keep him alive and save, were disconnected. This was very impacting to him, and later on, he decided to travel to the United States, and leave Colombia.
We were very good friends since early childhood, and and of the most special memories I have is that he tough me how to walk. He would always hold my hand were ever we go out to walk. He always looked after me.
After his first cerebral incident, we started talking every single day. Our conversations could last 30, 45, or 60 minutes. We both looked at that our of the day, in the afternoons.
I already miss my older brother, and I know that he is in heaven with the rest of our family , parents and sisters.
I love you Jaime, from the bottom of my heart, Rest in Peace, my dear brother.
Love and prayers, Brando
My uncle was a very special person for us and also for my parents. I loved talking with him and listening to the conversations he had with my dad every evening or afternoon. They had special relationship. They loved each other and respect each other.
I learned so much by sitting and sharing with the two of them. They loved to talk about all the great and mischievous things they dad while young men. They talked about their childhood and my grandparents.
I already missed listening to both of them laughing and telling each other what movies to see on the TV.
When we were able to visit him 3 years ago, he loved playing with us and was always happy and laughing.
I appreciate how his wife Cecelia, and my cousins facilitated for their long conversations to take place.
My sister Cristina and I tried to keep him in touch with our families as we unfortunately live so far away; though thanks to technology, we felt close to each other.
Love you tio querido.
Martha Gomez
This is our family, sisters (Raquel, Teresa, Lucy, Hilda) , parents (
Rosa Maria and Jose Gregorio), Jaime on the right, and me on the left.
On June of 2019 we had the blessing to visit Tio Jaime and Tia Cecilia! It was a beautiful time. We played tren Mexicano, we sang boleros and Colombian music , went for walks, ate at great restaurants and laughed until we cried!