Daisy Yvette Gonzalez, 54, of New Haven, Connecticut passed away suddenly at Yale New Haven Hospital on July 6, 2017.
A memorial service will be held at Wilbur Cross High School, 181 Mitchell Dr., Monday, July 17, beginning at 5 p.m.
Daisy was born in New York on May 5, 1963 to Juanita Rivera Nunez and Robinson Arroyo. Daisy was a devoted mother to her two sons Michael and Marc and a devoted wife to her loving husband Luis “JR” Gonzalez. She would often say that she could not do the work she was called to do without the support of her husband, the love of her life, her soul mate, and tower of strength, “JR.”
Daisy was appointed to the Board of Ed by Mayor John DeStefano in 2013 and was voted unanimously to become the president of the New Haven Board of Education in January 2017. She was a strong courageous force on the Board with her fair and calming manner. Her presence on the Board will be truly missed.
Daisy attended schools in Puerto Rico, New Jersey, and New Haven. She would often reminisce about her time at Wilbur Cross High School with Mr. Michael Nast, the principal, and a favorite teacher, Mrs. Eleanor Turner. Daisy attended Albertus Magnus taking courses in banking and finance while holding a fulltime job as a Branch Supervisor and trainer at TD Bank in New Haven. Daisy began her community activism at Farnam House while still a teenager where she met Frank Redente, who made a lasting impression on her for his passion and commitment to youth in the New Haven community.
Daisy’s gift for attracting friendships across all ages, races, and groups was a major factor in bringing her to the altar in 1988 when a friend of her mother’s decided that she would make a great wife for her son Luis “JR” Gonzalez. Seven years later, the young couple welcomed their first son, Michael Luis Miguel Gonzalez into the world, and six years later Marc Anthony Gonzalez was born. Marc was a miracle birth because the doctors told Daisy and Luis that she could not have any more children after Michael.
Daisy Gonzalez was every parent’s parent and the guardian angel for all of New Haven’s children. She was a passionate advocate for parental involvement and worked effectively across the various groups and interests in the broader community to provide the best education for our students. She became the matriarch of her own family when her mother passed away in 2016. The late Maya Angelou noted that courage was the most important virtue because it enabled individuals to practice all the others. Courageous Daisy was loving, kind, resourceful, thoughtful, patient and energetic with a zest for life. Most importantly, she was courageous enough to practice these virtues. She quietly listened to many different viewpoints before determining what she felt was the best and right thing to do. She was dedicated to advancing New Haven Public Schools despite health challenges and family obligations. Daisy Gonzalez never shirked the responsibility to take up the cause of some of our most at risk children. She was a champion for children that many wrote off or avoided. Daisy was a regular presence at many school and community activities. She was fierce in her insistence that every child deserved love, support, and encouragement. She lived a life of service and left enough time to laugh, sing, dance, and enjoy the company of others, especially her boys and her beloved JR.
Daisy was predeceased by her mother Juanita Rivera Nunez, her father Robinson Arroya and her brother Alfredo. She leaves to cherish her memory, her loving husband Luis “JR” Gonzalez, sons Michael and Marc Gonzalez, her sisters Nancy Rosado (Raul) of New York, Lillian Cordero (Felipe), Lucz (Carlos), Marian Vega and a special niece, Hope Vega (Efrain) all from New Haven.
Funeral Arrangements Entrusted to:
Washington Memorial Funeral Home
4 Washington Avenue
North Haven, CT 06473