Dr. Jorge E Gonzalez Sr.

Dr. Jorge Enrique Gonzalez Sr. MD, age 95, of Columbia, passed on to Heaven from his son’s home on Sunday June 25th, 2017. He passed in comfort and peace surrounded by family while holding the hand of his gorgeous wife of 64 years. He was born in Santiago de Cuba on June 1st, 1922. He was a son of Dr. Servando Gonzalez and Estelvina Gonzalez. He was the sixth of seven children that included three brothers and three sisters. Dr. Gonzalez is survived by his wife, Maria Teresa Gonzalez, sister-in-law, Aleida Ramirez, son, Jorge Enrique Gonzalez, Jr., daughter-in-law, Megan Filomae Gonzalez, and adored black-lab, Jet. Dr. Gonzalez and his family have been established members of St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Columbia where their only son was baptized in 1969. Dr. Gonzalez graduated from The University of Havana Medical School in 1952. He and his bride moved from his home country to begin his Residency in Psychiatry in Providence, RI. Following the pioneering Legislation for Mental Health initiated by US President John F. Kennedy in the early 1960s, Dr. Gonzalez was brought to Columbia by then President of the South Carolina State Hospital, Dr. William S. Hall. Dr. Gonzalez was a member of the American Medical Association, American Psychiatric Association, Columbia Medical Society and Cuban Medical Society. He retired from the SC Department of Mental Health after 40 years of service at their Bull St. campus. Dr. Gonzalez was loved by all that knew him for his friendly and loving spirit. He was always considered to be the life of the party and was a master of disconnecting from his physician role to best enjoy precious time with family and friends. He was passionate about long family vacations by the ocean, boating, hunting and fishing. He was popular with his son’s childhood friends as they all always wanted to include him in their outdoor adventures due to his fun and jovial nature. He based his leisure time around his family’s interests that included Little League baseball, Park League football, BMX racing, motocross and auto racing. Dr. Gonzalez always loved garnet red since his son pulled for the Gamecocks and was a graduate of The University of South Carolina. Dr. Gonzalez will always be remembered for the enormous sacrifices he made in the best interest of his family and mental health community. His love will always remain in our hearts and may his soul rest in peace with God, our lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit by his side. He was an example to follow in life and an inspiration to remember in death. The Gonzalez family will receive friends at 10:00 AM on Thursday, June 29th followed by an 11:00 AM service in the Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel at 7600 Woodrow St., Irmo. Burial will follow the service at Woodridge Memorial Park at 138 Corley Mill Rd., Lexington.