Paul Joseph Gonzalez III
June 8, 1943 ~ December 2, 2019
Paul Joseph Gonzalez, III, or “Pablo”, was born on June 8, 1943 in Tampa, Florida. He grew up as a second-generation immigrant from Spain in a bilingual household. He was raised with a strong Catholic faith and attended Jesuit High School in Tampa followed by Loyola University in New Orleans. In college he met, and then married, the first love of his life, Mary Josephine Gonzalez, who preceeded him in death in 2010.
After Loyola, Paul spent two years as a combat engineering officer in the US Army in Germany, and then worked for the FBI as a data analyst. He studied to receive a master’s degree from Virginia Tech. He then continued to contract with the government with various companies, working on projects ranging from developing information systems for the Special Olympics to planning for the first iterations of self-driving vehicles.
He thrived on solving puzzles others found too difficult. He thirsted for knowledge and further expanded his horizons by taking continuing education courses up until his last days. He was an avid reader and a prolific writer. He was fiercely loyal, deeply loving, and had a wicked sense of humor.
He went to be with our Lord and Savior on December 2, 2019.
He is survived by his daughter, Christine Van Ramshorst, his son-in-law, Ryan Van Ramshorst, his sister, Nancy Swarts, and his partner, Linda Delk.
A Funeral Mass to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 12:00pm at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd, Reston, VA with interment to follow at Fairfax Memorial Park in Fairfax, VA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Toys for Tots in his name. Online condolences and fond memories may be offered to the family at www.moneyandking.com
After Loyola, Paul spent two years as a combat engineering officer in the US Army in Germany, and then worked for the FBI as a data analyst. He studied to receive a master’s degree from Virginia Tech. He then continued to contract with the government with various companies, working on projects ranging from developing information systems for the Special Olympics to planning for the first iterations of self-driving vehicles.
He thrived on solving puzzles others found too difficult. He thirsted for knowledge and further expanded his horizons by taking continuing education courses up until his last days. He was an avid reader and a prolific writer. He was fiercely loyal, deeply loving, and had a wicked sense of humor.
He went to be with our Lord and Savior on December 2, 2019.
He is survived by his daughter, Christine Van Ramshorst, his son-in-law, Ryan Van Ramshorst, his sister, Nancy Swarts, and his partner, Linda Delk.
A Funeral Mass to celebrate his life will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019 at 12:00pm at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11900 Lawyers Rd, Reston, VA with interment to follow at Fairfax Memorial Park in Fairfax, VA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or Toys for Tots in his name. Online condolences and fond memories may be offered to the family at www.moneyandking.com
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I knew Paul through high school.he was friendly caring cordial and smart.i loss contact until I call ed him when he was in San antonio to say hello after 50 years.unfortunately we did not reconnect.i will miss him and think of him often for his good nature and cordial and positive outlook Unfortunately we never vonnected.my regrets Leo borrell
Loyal friend, wonderful husband and father, serious thinker, careful and creative writer, reasoned patriot, great baseball fan—and a knowledgeable one as well—and above all a man whose lifelong Catholic Faith was both reasonable and powerful. My memories of Paul—his solid and oh-so-serious work on the Jesuit High debate team; his decision that he and I ought to go down to the French Quarter the day after his parents dropped us off for college at Loyola—with his dad’s warning to us to “stay away from that sinful place” still ringing in our ears; his shepherding me home after an over-indulgent Mardi Gras celebration in the French Quarter in our first year in college; our evening dinners (oh, the 49-cent special!) at the Tulane University student center, where we dined with John Lindorfer, Carolyn Tosso, Fred Wade and Mike Shepard and others; his great pride in being a physics major at Loyola, in one of the best undergrad physics programs in the country; his pride in being an officer in the US Army Corps of Engineers; his persistence in asking Mary Jo to marry him and waiting for her to answer “Yes”; his fine work as a systems engineer and analyst for several leading companies; his overwhelming fatherly pride when Chrissie was born; his delightful conversation over the many occasions, after we had both retired, when I came to Herndon to visit and join him in taking in Washington Nats ball games. He and Mary Jo had a good life together. May God bless them both, and may God comfort Chrissie and Ryan, Nancy and her sons, Marty and all the Butlers. —Tom Gallagher
I got to know my father-in-law better than most sons-in-law ever do. I was very active in the American Medical Student Association soon after starting med school (which was just after I first met his amazing daughter, Christine, who I am honored to have as my spouse and soulmate of over 1o years). AMSA (as this organization was known) was headquartered in Reston, VA, less than a mile from the home where Christine grew up. This meant that each time I came into Northern Virginia/DC for a meeting, Paul and Mary Jo would take me out to dinner. I got to know both of them as if they were my own parents. I even lived with them for two separate 6 week periods (without Christine) while I did internships in Washington, DC for the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. I got to have home-cooked meals from Mary Jo and go to Nats games with Paul. They both loved me as if I was their son – even before I married Christine. I loved playing chess with Paul – even though I only beat him once. I regret that I won’t be able to play with him (and try to beat him) until we meet again. Thank you, Dad, for sharing your beautiful, talented, and incredible daughter, with me, and for loving me as if I was your own son. May you rest in peace. It is an honor being part of your family. I love you. – Ryan Van Ramshorst
I am so sorry to hear that Paul has passed on—–but on the bright side, it is to a better address—–he was one of original members of the Jesuit class of 1960 that was the first to be at the new school address on Himes Ave. He was a well liked , straight forward friendly person who had no enemies—I wish you all well at this most difficult time– Dennis S Agliano, MD JHS 60
Mary and I are very sorry that I will not be able to attend his funereal mass tomorrow. We have very fond memories of our visits with Paul at his home in Virginia and also during his visits to Tampa ! May he Rest In Peace !