Richard Gonzales

Richard E. Gonzales, 84, of Boca Raton, Florida, died on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, in Boca Raton. He was born on March 8, 1937, in Donora, PA., the son of Manuel and Evelyn (Todd) Gonzalez. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Richard Edward Gonzales. A Catholic by faith, he is survived by his wife of 65 years, RoseMarie (Yocolano) Gonzales, two daughters Gina Limes and her husband Dale of Westerville, OH and Ramona Aliseo and her husband Joseph of Boca Raton, FL, two sons, John Manuel Gonzales, and his wife Anne of Westerville, OH, and Anthony Richard Gonzales and his wife Lisa of Boca Raton, FL. He is survived by a brother, Raymon Gonzales of Ashburn, VA. He had eight grandchildren, Amy Limes Ooten and her husband Larry Ooten, of Galena, OH, Jennifer, Lois and Richard Gonzales all of Westerville, OH, Joseph, Michael, and Annabella Rose Gonzales of Boca Raton, FL, and Jeffery Limes of Superior, CO. He had two great-grandchildren, Ava Rose and Elijah Ren Ooten of Galena, OH. He had two step-grandchildren, Joseph and James Aliseo of Boynton Beach, FL. His uncles, Ray (Mickey), John, Frank, Joe, and Andy Todd were prominent amateur and professional boxers that owned and operated the Todd Athletic Club in Donora, among its membership were many of the Mon-Valley's greatest athletes such as Stan Musial, Lee Sala, and Arnold Galiffa. Richard, affectionately known as “Apples”, played football for the legendry Jimmy Russell and was a member of the 1953 undefeated Donora High School team that was the WPIAL co-champions with Har-Brack High School. He was co-captain of the 1954 Dragons, graduated from Donora Senior High School in 1955, and went to the University of Denver, Colorado, Business Administration College on a football scholarship. He was captain of his college freshman football team as they played the Air Force Academy in the Falcons historic first interscholastic game. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. with the Fleet Marine Force in Japan, Okinawa, and the Philippines. Richard was in the rental car business for 26 years with Avis Rent-a-Car Systems, Inc, the Hertz Corporation, and Brown Drive-Ur-Self, Inc. A large part of that time was spent in Columbus, Ohio as an Avis zone manager. During that time, he was president of CATRALA, a state organization and president of CARALA, a nationwide umbrella group for state rental issues. In 1979 he was made a Kentucky Colonel by then Governor Pat Brown of Kentucky. In 1981 he received the Al Rosen Award for Car & Truck Renting and Leasing Association man of the year. From 1985 to 1989 he owned and operated Tony's Delite in Logger’s Run, West Boca, Florida. Richard worked for the Sun-Sentinel Company for 10 years, receiving the prestigious President’s Award before retiring in May of 2000. During his retirement, Richard enjoyed walking and exercising, especially at Michael's Body Scenes gym, with the Silver Sneakers program. He enjoyed Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Miami Dolphins football as well as playing for the Golden Year senior and church league softball teams. He also enjoyed reading and traveling, especially cruises and visiting friends and family in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. He regularly wrote political opinions printed in the Sun-Sentinel newspaper. He was a member of the Mon Valley Leathernecks.

Richard was cremated by the Neptune Society. In the future his remains and his wife’s, RoseMarie Gonzales’, will be joined along with their son, Richard Edward Gonzales in Tampa, FL. Richard did not want a service for himself so the family will have a joint service in the future for both Richard and Rose at the time of her passing. In lieu of flowers, please send a gift to St. Jude Children Research Hospital and or Wounded Warrior Project.