Norman Gomes
November 7, 1914 — September 12, 2005
Norman Gomes
Norman Vincent Gomes, born Nov 7, 1914, passed away on September 12, 2005, at the age of 90.
Norman led a full and productive life. In 1933 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he rose to the rank of company commander in charge of rehabilitation of CCC camps. As company commander he was responsible for the administration, housing, training and general welfare of 200-300 men. In 1941 he was called into active duty for the US Army. He served stateside as the Post Engineer at the Prisoner of War Camp in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where he supervised the organization of the maintenance and repair facilities for the post.
He was discharged from the Army in 1946 having earned the rank of major. He went on to get his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University and an MBA in Management from Xavier University. He worked for General Electric, General Dynamics, and most importantly to him, the Jet Propulsion Lab at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. He went on to work for the federal government as an industry representative and consultant for the US Commission on Government Procurement, then as an administrative officer and program director for the General Services Administration, from which he retired in 1978. While at the GSA he received several outstanding performance awards.
Norman also spent time as an educator: he was a visiting lecturer in industrial management at Xavier University and a visiting lecturer in management at San Antonio College. He believed in giving back to the community by being active in the San Antonio chapter of Serra International, and on the boards of the Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council of the Northeast Independent School District in San Antonio, and the Visiting Nurses Association of San Antonio.
A devout Catholic, he was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and the Knights of Columbus.
He married Carolyn Moore of Springfield, Missouri in 1942. They were married until her death in 1983. Twelve years later he met and fell in love with Helen Kurzawa. They married and lived in Burnet until eight years ago, when they moved back to San Antonio. They then moved to Austin to be closer to family.
Norman is survived by his wife Helen, her daughter and husband, Jane and Robin Cravey, her son and wife, Bob and Cindy Kurzawa. Grandchildren Emma and Molly Cravey, and Kayla and Nick Kurzawa. He is also survived by nieces and nephews and grand-nephews and grand-nieces in New Bedford, Massachusetts and Springfield, Missouri.
A graveside service with military honors will be held on Friday, September 16, 2005 at 1 pm at the National Cemetery in Springfield with Msgr. Thomas Reidy officiating under the care of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut. No visitation is planned.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Catholic Charities.
Norman led a full and productive life. In 1933 he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, where he rose to the rank of company commander in charge of rehabilitation of CCC camps. As company commander he was responsible for the administration, housing, training and general welfare of 200-300 men. In 1941 he was called into active duty for the US Army. He served stateside as the Post Engineer at the Prisoner of War Camp in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, where he supervised the organization of the maintenance and repair facilities for the post.
He was discharged from the Army in 1946 having earned the rank of major. He went on to get his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Management from Oklahoma State University and an MBA in Management from Xavier University. He worked for General Electric, General Dynamics, and most importantly to him, the Jet Propulsion Lab at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California. He went on to work for the federal government as an industry representative and consultant for the US Commission on Government Procurement, then as an administrative officer and program director for the General Services Administration, from which he retired in 1978. While at the GSA he received several outstanding performance awards.
Norman also spent time as an educator: he was a visiting lecturer in industrial management at Xavier University and a visiting lecturer in management at San Antonio College. He believed in giving back to the community by being active in the San Antonio chapter of Serra International, and on the boards of the Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council of the Northeast Independent School District in San Antonio, and the Visiting Nurses Association of San Antonio.
A devout Catholic, he was a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and the Knights of Columbus.
He married Carolyn Moore of Springfield, Missouri in 1942. They were married until her death in 1983. Twelve years later he met and fell in love with Helen Kurzawa. They married and lived in Burnet until eight years ago, when they moved back to San Antonio. They then moved to Austin to be closer to family.
Norman is survived by his wife Helen, her daughter and husband, Jane and Robin Cravey, her son and wife, Bob and Cindy Kurzawa. Grandchildren Emma and Molly Cravey, and Kayla and Nick Kurzawa. He is also survived by nieces and nephews and grand-nephews and grand-nieces in New Bedford, Massachusetts and Springfield, Missouri.
A graveside service with military honors will be held on Friday, September 16, 2005 at 1 pm at the National Cemetery in Springfield with Msgr. Thomas Reidy officiating under the care of Herman H. Lohmeyer Funeral Home, 500 E. Walnut. No visitation is planned.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Catholic Charities.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Norman Gomes, please visit our flower store.
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