Friends Recall Many 'A Good Day' With Juan Carlos Gonzalez

Posted Nov. 28, Updated Dec. 5 

‘A good day to you, my friend.’

In recent years the late Juan Carlos Gonzalez would often use a variation of those words when saying hello, and more often goodbye, to friends in Canton.  

It went to the heart of a cultural and personality trait of someone who friends recall as welcoming, gregarious, playful and giving. 

“His absence has left a big hole in the community,” said close friend David K. Leff.

On Nov. 22, in his native Ecuador, Gonzalez succumbed to complications from pneumonia and a long battle with thyroid problems, according to family members.  

His personality was partially influenced by Ecuadorian culture but as he used to joke — there could “only be one Juan.”

“For those of us that knew him, that is so true,” Lisa Oquisanti said.

"I am forever grateful to have known a soul as bright as my friend, Juan," said Collinsville resident Kristen Stevens. "He was one of the good guys. I sincerely hope he knows how appreciated he was, and how fortunate we were to be in his presence. He will be profoundly missed."

Gonzalez was born Dec. 10, 1973 in Guayaquil, Ecuador. 

In all from his father and mother’s side, he had two brothers and three sisters.

“He was a cute child with blond curly hair, of really white and fair skin, and very alert and smart,” said his mother Cielo R. Andrade Briones. “He was very sensitive to other's suffering. He loved his mother, sisters and brother, and friends very much — even people he didn't know.”

In Ecuador Gonzalez attended Catholic schools, first La Salle High School and later Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo, where he studied business. 

He worked for two airlines and managed a yacht club while in Ecuador. He met his ex-wife Maggie Saska some 21 years ago when Saska went to Ecuador as a Litchfield High School exchange student.

“I just remember him being so social,” Saska said. “He just wanted to make people happy. That’s what made him happy.”

As Gonzalez' and Saska’s relationship grew he made plenty of “generous, big gestures.” Often Gonzalez would fly to the states – sometimes just for the weekend - to visit family or meet Saska as she studied and pursued her interests at Hampshire College and elsewhere.

“He was really a generous person,” Saska said.

They were married in 1997 in Ecuador. After 1999, the couple lived in various spots throughout Connecticut and New York.

The couple came to Canton in 2006. Gonzalez would eventually start a translation business and loved computers and electronics. He often spoke to friends about opening his own bar, dreaming of one on the Ecuadorian coast and another in the former Collins Co. Factory complex. 

It wasn’t long after moving to town that Gonzalez joined the town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department in October of 2006. 

Said his sister Lori Andrade, "He always wanted to be a firefighter. He made that child dream come true."

“He really got to meet his neighbors and committed himself to the community,” Saska said. “I think he really enjoyed that aspect of it.”

“The department would like to extend our condolences and prayers to Mr. Gonzalez' family and friends,” said Fire chief Richard Hutchings.

Matt Majher, a retired captain from the department, said Gonzalez took varied training courses and became part of technical and water rescue efforts.

“He was always pushing to do more,” Majher said. “He wanted to be as helpful as possible to his neighbors in Canton.” 

Majher said the thing he will always remember is Gonzalez drive and determination to arrange donations of some old equipment, such as air packs, to South American Fire Departments that could greatly use them, even if they no longer met safety requirements in the United States. 

“It was enlightening,” Majher said. “We take so much for granted.” 

Gonzalez loved to socialize at locales in town, such as the Crown and Hammer Pub and Restaurant. 

"Juan was the kind of person people could get to know very easily," said Leff, who met Gonzalez through the fire department.

Gonzalez also spent numerous hours at ABC Pizza, sharing common bonds of his love of cooking and ethnicity with its owner. He'd even lend a helping hand. 

“He was part of the family for us,” said ABC owner Wagner Hurtado.

Leff said people might not realize the depth of Gonzalez’s intelligence, stating that he was well versed in music, literature and history. The one historical person he would have loved to share a drink with was Ben Franklin. Leff said he had an interest in Franklin’s wit, ever curious mind, and love of life.  

"I think these traits reflect on Juan," Leff said. 

“Juan's appetite for life must have somehow tied in with the fact that the Universe only needed him down here for a short time,” said Myles Walsh, former Dish ‘n Dat  bartender, now managing partner at Flatbread. “Maybe he knew on some level that he wasn't going to be here as long as most, so he tried to squeeze in as much as he could in such a short time.”

Gonzalez was deeply affected by the loss of his close friend Michael Smith just over a year ago. 

“He would sit at the bar and do his best to be his normal, cheerful self. But even when he could get up the façade, it wouldn't last,” Walsh said.

But the two were determined that it was just “until next time.”  

Recently Gonzalez spent some time traveling and was in Ecuador for approximately a month, attending to some family business.

There he continued to have some health issues, including bouts with pneumonia.

The Canton community was shocked at the death and his facebook wall quickly filled with messages, including Majher’s firefighter-themed tribute: “Juan, you were far too young to be 'first due' from our crew. Be at peace, brother.”

In Canton, friends have planned a local tribute at the Crown and Hammer in Collinsville from 7 to 9 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 9. 

At a mass in Ecuador some 200 people gathered in his honor.

“The service was beautiful,” his mother said. “A 16-year-old singer with an angelical voice sang, and her performance was really touching. Everyone was able to feel the love and the grief.”

His memory will be commemorated with a mass at the first month of his passing and again in a year.

“He was the best son, the best and loving brother," his mother said, "He would give himself without limits. There were no limits for his family and the love he felt for us and his friends.”