Efrain Gonzalez, formerly of Farmingdale, New York, passed away on Thursday, March 13, 2014 at the Fraser Health Center, Hilton Head Island, SC, at the age of 97. Mr. Gonzalez was born in Jayuya, Puerto Rico on February 22, 1917. He was one of nine children born to Bernabe and Baudilia (Hernandez) Gonzalez,
A U.S. Army veteran, Mr. Gonzalez attended City College of New York and later worked for Republic Aviation and Grumman Aircraft Corporation, While at Grumman, Mr. Gonzalez was proud and honored to be part of the project team to work on the Lunar Exploration Module (LEM) that made the first manned landing on the Moon on July 20, 1969 as part of the Apollo 11 space flight, His signature is on the inside of the LEM on the moon.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Maria Teresa (Del Rio) Gonzalez, of Hilton Head Island; daughter, Enid G. Anderson, of Hilton Head Island and son, Efrain J. Gonzalez, of Brooklyn, NY. Also surviving him are his grandsons Andrew Hegedus (Kathryn), and
Adam Hegedus (Carrie); great-grandchildren Maggie Hegedus, Clara Hegedus, Olivia Hegedus, Grace Hegedus, and Charlie Hegedus, and a wonderfully supportive extended family that he loved deeply including Lisa Anderson (Robert), Robert Anderson (Amelia) and great-grandchildren Natalie Anderson, Verity Murphy and Caroline Anderson, Also surviving him are his brother Joseph A. Gonzalez and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Gonzalez was predeceased by his beloved daughter Christine Marie; sonin-law William G. Anderson; and by his siblings, Gilbert Gonzalez, Tito Gonzalez, Rafael Gonzalez, Miguel Gonzalez, Vidalina Lagares, Antonia Rivera, and Carmen Gonzalez.
A memorial mass was held at Holy Family Church, Hilton Head Island, on Friday, March 21, 2014. Funeral services will be held in Farmingdale, NY. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, April 7, 2014 at St. Kilian Church in Farmingdale, NY, at 9:45 a.m., followed by burial with military honors at the Long island National Cemetery. The Island Funeral Home and Crematory and Arthur F, White Funeral Home are handling the arrangements for the family. www.theislandfuneralhome.com., www.arthurfwhite.com.
