Herbert Gonzalez of Morganton, NC, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, February 11, 2023.
Born in Coral Gables, FL, on April 15, 1937 he was the son of the late Basilio and Constance Gonzalez.
Herb played competitive baseball as a youth with the Boy's Clubs of Miami, then at Coral Gables High School and the University of Florida. He went on to serve as president of the Boys' Clubs of Miami from 1973 to 1982, and his tireless efforts helped to enrich the lives of thousands of Dade county boys.
Herb was also an avid sports fan and an expert in all things baseball and thoroughbred racing. He wrote a book, Basil's Baseball, which takes a serious look at the evolution and current state of MLB.
Herb was one of Miami's leading commercial real estate developers in the 1960's and 70's and was responsible for over a million square feet of commercial space, including the Ponce De Leon building in downtown Coral Gables and The Executive building on NE 25th St in Miami. Both still stand today. At 13 stories, the Ponce De Leon building was the only building over three stories in downtown Coral Gables at the time.
Herb is survived by his sons, Greg, Mike, and Alex; grandchildren, Kyle, Katlyn, Cameron, Sydney, Brian, and Aaron; and sister, Beverly Carr.
No services are planned at this time.
Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.
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I miss You, dear old friend!. Who can I go to now for info on our Miami history? Or……who can I ask who sang or played a song from the 50s and 60s? Who can I depend upon to make me laugh with your sarcastic little interjections. Our Gables Lunchbunch misses you and your interesting confabulations . Not to mention our unplanned excursions with Patricia at the wheel. I know you and Ed are somewhere looking down on us, making snide remarks about what we are doing wrong. Thank you for bringing kindness, gentleness, intelligence and laughter into our lives.