Born in Madera, CA to Leno Gomes and Alice Pimentel, he passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on February 5, 2018. Ernest Gene Gomes was raised in Madera, CA by his paternal grandmother, Adelaide Gomes on the Gomes Dairy in the Storey District of Madera. Ernie attended local schools, graduating from Madera Union High School. Following Madera High School, he went on to Fresno State where he was on the wrestling team, majoring in Engineering. While attending Fresno State he drove school buses for the Madera Unified School District. He served his country in the United States Army seeing duty in Korea. Returning from his military service, Ernie met and married Jean Baccelli. Ernie earned his civil engineering license and his career spanned 30 years until retiring from Monterey County. He has lived in Salinas since 1969 where he and his wife Jean were involved in the community of Salinas where she was a teacher and he was a civil engineer. His hobbies included scuba diving with the Monterey Sunfish Diving Club, deep sea fishing maintaining a boat (My Jeannie) in the Monterey Harbor, table tennis, photography, videotaping his children’s lives and working on his rentals over the years.

Ernie Gomes was the “go to” nephew for his Aunts, Lily Gonsalves and Dorothy Cowger in their later years. Ernie consistently kept in touch with his large extended family throughout the United States. He participated in the family linguica making for many years. Ernie always used his talents in engineering, his extensive knowledge of how to fix things, his skill with computers and taxes and his most valuable resource- his time to help many other people throughout his life.

Over the years, Ernie and Jean enjoyed their trips to Italy, France, Greece to see their daughter’s inlaws and many trips across the States to visit their son’s family in their RV. Ernie’s daughter took them to the Azore Island of Flores for the trip of his lifetime to see his family roots in 2014.

After retirement, Ernie and Jean spent time with their children/grandchildren. They both attended coffee with a group of retired employees every Wednesday morning. Ernie continued this ritual and the group was very important to him.

Ernie took up table tennis again after Jean passed away. He created a community of friends at the Rec Center.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Jean Marlene Gomes of 47 years in 2014 as well as his aunts and uncles including Godmother Lily Gomes Gonsalves, Lorraine Victorine Goldman, Dorothy Cowger, Joe Gomes, Walter Gomes, Louie Gomes and his cousin Melvin Gonsalves.

Ernie is survived by his two children and their families. Kim Gomes Karmirantzos (Lakis Karmirantzos) and Gary Gomes (Phyllis Slaughter Gomes). Ernie had 6 grandchildren (Nikos Karmirantzos, Ray Gomes, Shea Gomes, Zach Gomes), 2 adult grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. Ernie is also survived by his brother and wife, Del and Velma Gomes, sister Lorraine Simmons, cousin Ed Victorine (Lisa Victorine) and many other cousins and extended family members.

Donations in Ernie and Jean Gomes’ memory may be made to Saint Jude’s Childrens Hospital.

Services will be held for the family and friends of Ernie and Jean Gomes. Please contact his family for details at erniegomes@hotmail.com.
 

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