Donald William Gomez

Donald William Gomez Sr., also known as “Goldie Gomez”, was born in Sharon, Massachusetts on April 16, 1931, to Emmanuel P. Gomez and Esther C. Bowden. He had one older brother, John J. Gomez Sr. (deceased), and one younger sister, Doris M. Gomez-Jackson (deceased).

Donald attended Sharon High School, where he was very athletic and played many different sports. Directly after high school Donald joined the Army, and completed bootcamp at Camp Kilmer, in New Jersey, before being deployed to Germany. Donald often told many tales of his adventures in Germany.

When Donald returned home from the military, in 1952, he joined his family in Roxbury, Massachusetts, where he met and married Theresa M. Palmer. Together they had 6 children: Sharon D. Gomez-Morley (deceased), Yvonne T. Gomez-Caesar, Donald W. Gomez Jr., Kevin E. Gomez, Diane D. Gomez-Radcliff and Karen M. Gomez.

They lived in different areas of Boston, Massachusetts before moving to Kingston, MA, where he owned his own gas station. Donald enjoyed entertaining his large extended family at, what was referred to as “the house in the country”. He also enjoyed taking his family to Gray’s Beach and swimming out far past the buoys, ignoring the lifeguard’s whistle and calls for him to come back.

Donald lived his life as an adventurer and in 1979 moved his family to Miami, Florida. He held many different jobs and could fix many things with a simple roll of duct tape and a wire coat hanger.

After the loss of his wife, Theresa, in 1980, Donald met Sally F. McClarey and an extended family was formed, with the inclusion of 5 more children.

Donald enjoyed many activities like boxing, candlepin bowling, cards and many casinos in the SE Region of the US happen to know him by his first name. He had taught his children many things, but the most profound lesson was “If you are going to do something, do it right the first time or don’t do it at all”.

Donald spent his last few years surrounded by his family in Pompano Beach, Florida. He passed away on November 16, 2022, and will be deeply missed by his 5 children, 5 stepchildren, 15 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald William Gomez, please visit our floral store.