Jorge Gonzalez

Jorge Gonzalez , of West Chester, Ohio, passed away Monday, October 18, 2021 at the young age of 56. He was born Thursday, July 29, 1965 in Youngstown, Ohio.

Born with a servant's heart, Jorge embraced his career as a Spanish teacher, working in public education for thirty-four years, thirty-two years at Kings High School. He loved his students, genuinely admired their accomplishments and talents, and praised their kindness and maturity. He took the task of education very seriously, but never himself. Humor was the hallmark of his class and life.

Doing what he loved the most provided him the opportunity to meet the one he loved the most, Karin Bishop, who was also a high school teacher. The two were wed on July 19, 2003 in Bellarmine Chapel on Xavier University's campus. It was often joked the two were high school sweethearts, they just met as adults teaching high school students. Jorge found great joy in his family, especially in his daughter Lucy. Jorge wrote of Lucy: "Because of Lucy, I am a better teacher and a better person. I want to leave her a legacy of goodness, generosity, kindness, and love. She has made me more mindful of the unintentional harm that a person can cause another. Because of Lucy, I am grateful for everything I am and have and everything I am not and don't have. Because of Lucy, no matter what the future may bring, I will have joy and love in my heart. She is a blessing."

Jorge was a tireless advocate for teachers locally and around the state, serving the Kings Education Association, Southwest Ohio Education Association, and the Ohio Education Association. He served for eight years on the OEA Board of Directors and most recently represented Ohio teachers on the Ohio Education Standards Board. Jorge served the local community by organizing the Kings High School / Hoxworth biannual blood drive in response to 9/11. Jorge served the wider community by organizing and delivering textbooks and computers to Guatemala with Cooperative for Education and serving with Back2Back Ministries mission trip to Mexico.

Jorge loved music, Bruce Springsteen, and playing guitar with friends. Over the years he played in salsa bands and church groups, but his best music was always with friends on the patio. While he loved to cook, he truly relished the opportunity to savor delicious food. Travel memories were organized by cuisine: the lobster that kicked his ass in Maine, the Puerto Rican "chicken nuggets" in Columbus, the berry pie at Glacier National Park. A car enthusiast, Jorge enjoyed driving cars, buying cars, and attending car shows. Karin never worried when something "turned his head", because it would be followed by, "Wow! Check out that '67!"

Jorge was preceded in death by: parents, Jose and Alicia Gonzalez; brother, Jose Gonzalez; and sister-in-law, Lora Heckmann.

Jorge is survived by: wife, Karin Gonzalez; daughter, Lucy Gonzalez; siblings, Nancy (Mark) Mulcahy, Frank (Andrea) Naples, and Gary Yanucci; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fred and Anne Bishop; brother-in-law, Trey Heckmann; nieces and nephews, Shannon Mulcahy Biggs, Neil Mulcahy, Chris Swantner Grace Heckmann, and Sarah Heckmann; and many loving family members and friends.

Visitation will be Monday, October 25, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Mueller Funeral Home, 6791 Tylersville Road, Mason, Ohio 45040. Masks will be required to visit with the family.

A second visitation will be Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St. John the Evangelist Church, 9080 Cincinnati Dayton Road, West Chester, Ohio 45069. Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow at 11:00 AM.

Memorial donations may be made to the Jorge Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship Fund at any Fifth Third Bank location.