Friday, February 3, 2023
Memories of George Gonsalves from Rocky Gomes,. I remember the day George Gonsalves came from New Bedford vocational high school and joined the Cape Verdean teenagers from Carver in 1962-63 at Plymouth Carver high school. George was a big, tough looking guy who came to Carver with a reputation of being a good football player. George played fullback on the Plymouth Carver football team, and ran for many many touchdowns. For two years in a row on Thanksgiving morning, George led the Plymouth Carver football team to victory‘s over Silver Lake high school of Kingston. I remember sitting in homeroom with George, Wayne Gomes and Rochelle Fernandes, and hearing the announcement that President John Kennedy had been shot and killed in Dallas Texas. We all went home from school early that day. On the weekends together with George, I remember the guys from Carver heading to different parties in Carver ,Plymouth ,Wareham and New Bedford to find the ladies and dance. After retiring and moving to California, I was happy to see that George had become a member of the Cape Verdean Saint John, the Baptist club in Carver.. A year later he became president of that organization. At our 50th class reunion in 2015, I was so happy to see George again, despite the fact that I knew he had been suffering from back problems. That night I got to meet his wife Nancy and all of the Carver graduates of that class got together to take a lot of photos and create Carver memories with Karen , Larry ,Mark, Lovey ,Gerry,Gary, Donna and George Pimental !! Ready or not George knew it would all come to an end on this earth someday, What did he think would matter? George new what would matter was not what you had bought, or what you had received, or what was your personal success but instead what you had learned, what you had built, what you had given to others, and what was said about his character? He knew that his acts of integrity, compassion, and courage would be judged by those who knew him. Living a life that matters doesn’t happen by accident. It’s not a matter of circumstance, but of CHOICE!!.. so let’s CHOOSE to live a life that matters ..Please! George, I will miss you, but I am praying. I will see you again in one of those rooms in heaven.!! From BRO ROCKY
