Norman Vernon Gonsalves Sr, passed away on October 1, 2017, at the age of 86 years. The son of a Portuguese immigrant and native Benician, Norm was born and raised in Benicia, California. In his teens, he was a star athlete at Benicia High and upon graduating went to work as a machinist at the Yuba. He later worked from 1963 to 1993 as a planner/estimator at Mare Island Shipyard and had only retired this May from his job of twenty-one years at St. Dominic’s School.
There is no possible way to sum up the life of this great and beloved man. He quoted every sports statistic of every Bay Area player on any team (high school to professional) from the last seventy years, at least. He could fix and jury-rig everything, and did. He knew the history (all the news that’s fit to print and a lot that isn’t) of the town of Benicia and nearly every family in it. He worked tirelessly for the Holy Ghost Society for all of his life. He belonged to many fraternal organizations and societies including the BDES Hall Association, Benicia Holy Ghost Society, PFSA, SIRS, Native Sons of the Golden West #89, Benicia Volunteer Fire Department, Machinist Union, St. Dominic’s church, YMI, and numerous Portuguese organizations throughout the area.
He had a ready smile, a story and a joke for everyone. He never let anyone down, readily helping his family and friends (and strangers too). Norm was a carpenter and a craftsman and was happiest when he had a project to work on and when he was with his friends and family.
He is survived by his true love, Mary, his wife of sixty-eight years, his brother, Chuck his sister, Marge, and children, Nancy, Kathleen, Ken (Francine) Ronald (Jo) and daughter-in-law, Carol Gonsalves. His Niece, Kathleen Marie Freitas (Vincent). He had fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son Norm, his grandchildren Bridget Langston and Eli Gonsalves, sisters Virginia Nelson and Ernestine Saraiva, son-in-laws, Bob Langston and Bob Robertson and many other family and friends. He most likely is regaling all of them with stories about Minnie and her chickens.
Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Friday at Passalacqua Funeral Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Dominic’s Church, 475 East I Street, Benicia followed by burial in St. Dominic’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the BDES Hall Association, PO Box 1206 Benicia, CA. 94510
Bio from Dear Family.
~Added by His Niece, Granddaughter of Virginia J. Gonsalves' Freitas-Seibert-(Nelson), only biological daughter of Eugene Joseph Freitas.
Norman Vernon Gonsalves Sr, passed away on October 1, 2017, at the age of 86 years. The son of a Portuguese immigrant and native Benician, Norm was born and raised in Benicia, California. In his teens, he was a star athlete at Benicia High and upon graduating went to work as a machinist at the Yuba. He later worked from 1963 to 1993 as a planner/estimator at Mare Island Shipyard and had only retired this May from his job of twenty-one years at St. Dominic’s School.
There is no possible way to sum up the life of this great and beloved man. He quoted every sports statistic of every Bay Area player on any team (high school to professional) from the last seventy years, at least. He could fix and jury-rig everything, and did. He knew the history (all the news that’s fit to print and a lot that isn’t) of the town of Benicia and nearly every family in it. He worked tirelessly for the Holy Ghost Society for all of his life. He belonged to many fraternal organizations and societies including the BDES Hall Association, Benicia Holy Ghost Society, PFSA, SIRS, Native Sons of the Golden West #89, Benicia Volunteer Fire Department, Machinist Union, St. Dominic’s church, YMI, and numerous Portuguese organizations throughout the area.
He had a ready smile, a story and a joke for everyone. He never let anyone down, readily helping his family and friends (and strangers too). Norm was a carpenter and a craftsman and was happiest when he had a project to work on and when he was with his friends and family.
He is survived by his true love, Mary, his wife of sixty-eight years, his brother, Chuck his sister, Marge, and children, Nancy, Kathleen, Ken (Francine) Ronald (Jo) and daughter-in-law, Carol Gonsalves. His Niece, Kathleen Marie Freitas (Vincent). He had fourteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son Norm, his grandchildren Bridget Langston and Eli Gonsalves, sisters Virginia Nelson and Ernestine Saraiva, son-in-laws, Bob Langston and Bob Robertson and many other family and friends. He most likely is regaling all of them with stories about Minnie and her chickens.
Visitation will be 3-7 p.m. Friday at Passalacqua Funeral Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday at St. Dominic’s Church, 475 East I Street, Benicia followed by burial in St. Dominic’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the BDES Hall Association, PO Box 1206 Benicia, CA. 94510
Bio from Dear Family.
~Added by His Niece, Granddaughter of Virginia J. Gonsalves' Freitas-Seibert-(Nelson), only biological daughter of Eugene Joseph Freitas.
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