Albert was my neighbor and I live just around the corner from him.
I am usually hanging out in my garage just messing with my cars or my 1965 Ford Econoline truck ... yeah baby! Albert would come by in his early 60s Ford Falcon short bed vehicle just smiling from ear to ear, just happy as he can be riding that pretty thing. Sometimes when I am deep in the garage he would ram up his engine to like me know he is there,  The both of us are smiling and laughing talking about our rides. Fun times shooting the breeze with brother AL.

What a man, what a friend, what a great neighbor! i Miss him and so does everybody else in our neighborhood. RIP brother.
- Rik Norris

Still think of you Al.   Memories are priceless. Hope you’re enjoying the best of waves!
Bob W.

I just found out that he passed away.  Condolence to the Gomez family.  I had him as an art teacher at Bell Junior High from 1986 - 87.

Love you Al. Many good times and you always included me. I will miss you always. Thank you for your friendship. Love Cris

To Patty&Family, you have my condolences in the passing of Albert. Even though we did not see each otherthat much. With you on the West coast and me in Pittsburgh. Evey time we did was full of fun&laughter. You are in my thoutghts and prayers 🙏.                               
              Sincerely.                                                                  
                  Bob Wrigley  Pgh Pa

My sincere condolence to the Gomez Family.
Your family has been a true neighor for over 20 years. I meant Al and seen Patricia at times when they were walking by may house looking a my row of cars. Al was a Car Buff himself, and we just talk for hours about old school cars and trucks. Now brother Al have a love for my old 1965 Ford Econoline Truck, and always remind me to let him know when I was going to sell it. Of course I said never! LOL.
Memories, we have and I will always remember Al passing by the house ramping up his mid 60s Ford Ranchero to get my attention when I we in my garage or driveway messing around.
He will be sorely missed, but what a great neighbor he was.
- Sencerely, Rik & Oksun Norris

Dear Al:

I will never forget how you accepted and supported me when Derek and I became roommates. We always had so much fun talking and laughing. 

My love is with your family. I will never forget you, my friend.

Phil Carpenter

We are so sorry for the loss of Al. He was a wonderful tour guide. Mark and I were in  California and we ended our trip in San Diego. Al and Patty drove us around San Diego and showed us and taught us about the area.  It was a great day.  Al s years of being a teacher came through during the tour!.  The same trip we went to Patty and Al s home and had dinner with Derek, Marissa, Lauren and all other family members.  Al and Patty made us feel so comfortable.  It was a pleasure knowing Al.  .✝️  Peace and Love, Margie Wrigley Wilden  and Mark Wilden   

Blessings of love and peace to you Patty and your dear children. May God be with you.
Love,
Aline

Dear Pat and Family,

My Deepest Sympathy and thinking of you during this difficult time.  Keeping Al in my daily prayers.and all of you.
 
Rosalyn

So sorry for your loss Patty❤️ praying for you and your  family🙏🙏. Janet Soeder

Dad, you taught me many things and I will hold these memories with me forever. I miss you so much and love that you were a great friend to many! 

Whoever wrote Al's obituary did a perfect, awesome summary of his life and character.  I can only add I wish I could have spent more time with Al and Patty.  When we did get together, I had so much fun.  And Al certainly was candid - I never was confused how he felt about any issue.  He loved life, Patty, Derek, Marisa, Lauren, and all his family.   Wish I could have fished or surfed with Al, but by not doing so, I was spared some brutally honest review of my poor skills!  Hopefully heaven has as many adventures for Al as he enjoyed on this earth.

Al and I were friends since Elementary school.  We shared a lot of interests over the years, at San Diego State and later at High School  reunions.  I remember when  Al got his first drivers license from my Dad at CV DMV.  Al told my dad we were friends, so AL did not have to take the driving test.  Al thought that was pretty cool.  I 
was living in Waldport Oregon when I went cruising in my 66' Coupe De Ville convertible at the beach Yachats.  I  met a big guy walking with a charger hat on.  Told him I was from San Diego and I went to SD State.  He did as well and he asked me if I knew Al Gomez.  Wow! It's a small world.  Al and I were like minded about our country.   Al was a Patriot believing in America.  I will miss him very much.  He was a good man and I know he is in heaven.  Bless his wonderful family,  I am very sorry for your loss.         Wayne Starr

I first met Al when Marisa took me to visit/meet her family in 2009. What can typically be a nerve-racking experience turned out to be a afternoon of Cazadores shooters and some male bonding. It was a relief that we shared a lot of the same views and were proud Americans.  He was not very fond of my hometown, New York City and I didn't blame him, hahahaha.

Shortly after asking him for permission to marry his daughter, Marisa, we visited San Diego again for her bridal shower. Al and I were off to do some guy stuff so he took me to Tourmaline Beach to get this city kid to try surfing....A few minutes later after trying to balance myself on one of his surfboards I fell off and a stingray poked me right in the side of my foot. Al knew exactly what happened haha and rushed to the lifeguard station in PB. I spent the afternoon sitting in a room of other guys in the same situation with our legs in a bucket of hot water. After that, we spent evening sitting in the Garage having Cazadores shooters.

Since then it was always a good time visiting, Often he would just greet me with hey son-in- law! Al was either in his chair watching Western movies, calling out the locations where they were filmed or doing something constructive around the house, hanging up a new flag, maintaining the RV, restoring an old Ford Ranger and most recently working on his Ranchero. The garage was always a spectacle with boy toys,  off-roaders, cool surf boards, a mini fridge stocked with Tecate's and John Coltrane playing in the background. I often looked forward to Al's jokes at the dinner table and I was probably his best audience.   Our dog Lupe sure enjoyed the dinner scraps he snuck to her..He was the only person who could get away with that..

When it was time to leave he would always walk us out, check out our rides and wave us off as we rode away. We said goodbye for the last time on that front lawn on May 12 2023.  

I cherish the memories that I have had with my Uncle Albert.  As a child (4) I was lucky enough to be his flower girl and see a testament of love he had for my Aunt Pat.  It pains me to see him gone from this world but I cheerfully know that he is in the arms of Jesus and reunited with so many loved ones.  
I loved when I would babysit Derek and stay the night. Aunt Pat would make scrambled eggs with corn tortillas in it and it was delicious!!! There would be many conversations with them around the breakfast table.  
Uncle Albert you are so incredibly missed! Thank you for all the wonderful memories and love that you gave all of us throughout the year!  Not just family but to all your students who were lucky enough to have you at Bell Jr.  
Thank you for your legacy that you have left behind.  Well done, God’s good and faithful son.  Well done.   ❤️❤️❤️

To Al’s many family members, I am deeply sorry for your loss.

My memories of Al go back to 5th and 6th grade at Kellogg Elementary School in Chula Vista. He wrote/drew on his desk! In the hands of any other student, defacing school property would be delinquent behavior, but Al had the charm and talent to pul it off. It all seemed somehow joyful! His drawings of hot rods were done in graphite, so dark and passionately rendered that they were iridescent from the pressure of the pencil marks. 
 
My only contact with Al over the years was through high school class reunions. It was heartening to learn that things were right in the world when he told me that he honored his talent and pursued a career in art. The bonus — he was also an educator: What better way to ensure an important legacy than to scatter one’s passion among decades of students? A playful, good guy left his mark. 

Condolences,
Colleen Cringan Vasquez 

I’ve known Al since 7th grade living only a few blocks away! Kind hearted and lots of fun! Al will be missed by all .
My deepest condolences to his wife Patty and children. I will light a candle for him and forever cherish the memories we shared through the years.  A great surf partner, baseball buddy and friend!

Our sincerest and deepest condolences to Pat and the Gomez family. Having been neighbors for over 35 years, we have many memories of AL and will surely miss his presence. 

From
The first time I met Al I knew we had a little shared. Being surfing in SD or math, but it to me was real. He was a great man and father, and I am sure he touched many and will be missed and remembered for a long time. Good by surfer. 

J

Much love and prayers for the family at this time.  Meeting Al only once,  knew he was an amazing man .. reading his memories and his joys in life is just beautiful. Seems like he lived life to the fullest!!! May he rest in Peace❤️

My family’s deepest condolences to Al’s family. I can say for myself, having only shared laughs ( a maybe a drink) with him for a few days; that I can say he was “ A Man’s Man”. I wished I had known him longer! May he rest in Peace!

OBITUARY

Al Gomez

November 10, 1948 – July 24, 2023

Goodbody Mortuary

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