Benjamin Balmes Gozar, 57, of Virginia Beach, died on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 in Virginia Beach. Born August 6, 1952 in Calapan Oriental, Mindoro, Philippines, he was the son of the late Ismael and Antonia Balmes Gozar. He was a retired chief in the U.S. Navy, worked at Siemens for ten years, and owned a commercial cleaning business.
He is survived by his wife, Nilda Portus Gozar; two daughters, Janice Theresa Gozar Estepa and her husband, Noel, and Elaine Joyce Gozar; a son, Alex Christopher Gozar; two sisters, Maria Luz Gozar and Maria Dolores Gozar; brothers, Jaime Gozar and his wife, Dr. Herminia Gozar, Fr. Danilo Gozar, S.J., Randolfo Gozar and his wife, Remedios, Renato Gozar, Voltaire Gozar and his wife, Anna Marie, and Roberto Gozar and his wife, Cecilia; two granddaughters, Marisa Jane Gozar and Milla Noelle Gozar Estepa; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by a sister, Maria Corona Gozar Andaya.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, July 22 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Family Choice Funerals and Cremations, 5401 Indian River Road, Virginia Beach. A graveside service will be held on Friday, July 23 at 11 a.m. at Albert Horton Memorial Veterans’ Cemetery, 5310 Milners Road, Suffolk. A memorial mass will be offered on Friday at 3 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 1396 Lynnhaven Parkway, Virginia Beach. Online condolences may be made at www.familychoicefunerals.com.
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“…and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith.” 2Timothy 4:6-7.
Farewell my friend and shipmate…FAIR WINDS AND FOLLOWING SEAS!
Our hearts are saddened knowing you have lost a wonderful father and husband. But our souls have been lifted up knowing God has called one of his angels to come home. We will love and miss you.
God Bless.
~The Bolyard Family
Ben has been a very dear cousin to us, and losing him grieves me a lot….but he will live in my heart forever with happy thoughts of him when he was with us. Nilda and Children, I extend you our deepest sympathy. He was a good guy when he was living; I believe that he is in the good hands of the Lord Almighty.
Much love, Sally
My prayers are with you and your family Maria.
TO MARIA AND FAMILY,
I AM SO SORRY TO HEAR OF YOUR LOST. KEEP TRUSTING IN THE LORD. I AM PRAYING THAT HE WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH AND COMFORT THAT YOU NEED TO GET THREW YOUR TIME OF SORRY. I AM ALSO, PRAYING THAT GOD KEEP YOU CLOSE TO HIS OWN HEART. YOUR FRIEND AND CO-WORKER. KAREN RANDOLPH
Maria – Sorry for loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
Maria,
My prayers are with you and your family during this sad time.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Even though this time will be tough, have peace knowing that your brother is rejoicing with the Lord today in Glory.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
I love you dad. I’m always thinking about you and your always in my prayers. Thank you for teaching me everything I know. Everyone misses you, praying for you, and thinking of you. I love you
Dear Ate Nilda and family’
My deepest sympathy to all.God Bless.
Micay Gozar Legaspi
Toronto Ont. Canada
Nilda, Alex and Elaine, I have met all of you here at Oaklette United Methodist Church.
I wish I could find the right words to say “Thank You” for sharing your father and husband with us. Ben was a teriffic person, funny, serious, and some of his stories while in the Navy were great.
If there is anything I can do please, feel free to call.
We had fun times with the Gozar family during their stay in Jax. A very fun guy to be with. He will be missed. Our condolence to the Gozar family.
Im constantly thinking about you papa, so is everyone else. I miss you so much. I miss hearing you sing already, i loved your singing so much! Well your in my prayers papa. I love you.
I will miss you Ben. You are my dearest friend. We had fun, we shared laughter and jokes. We never stopped talking about our childhood and school days together. Man, we even had great time working together not minding the many hours you already clocked in that day. Now you are gone and I will miss my dearest classmate and friend. I will always remember you in my prayers.
Pareng Ben’s untimely death brought profound sorrow to me as well as to his many friends. During the many years i knew him I often thought of him as my own brother. I missed you, and will miss you always.Rest in peace my brother….
I love you Tito Ben. Thank you so much for everything. We won’t be where we are at now if not because of you. Thank you for helping our family and for being a role model to me. I admired how strong and brave you were and I wouldn’t forget how you used to make us laugh. You said you were coming back here in Jax. Again thank you, heaven is waiting for you now.
Nilda, So sorry for your loss, keep the faith and the Lord will contuine to bless you and your family. Vickie
Our condolence and prayers to the Gozar family. May eternal rest be granted unto him and may he enjoy for all eternity the great rewards Lord had promised to those who believe in Him.
I love you Uncle. You were like a second Dad to me and I will never forget you. I wish more than anything to have been able to be there to honor your memory but my heart and prayers will be. Auntie Nilda, Ate Janice, Elaine, Alex, Marisa, Milla you have my deepest sympathies. I love you all.
Our deepest condolences to Nilda and Family. You and Ben are in our prayers and will always be a good and dear friends to us.
Dear Gozar Family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Although I did not know Mr. Gozar well, I am a big fan of Alex and I feel terrible for his loss of his father at such a young age. Please know your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Sincerely, Lee A Dodd ..Dental Assistant
Nilda – I was so sadden to hear about your husband’s passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.
Eileen
Pls extend our condolences to
Nilda and family. we lost a great friend and truly a man
of all season. We surely missed him but he will be in a better place and heaven has a special for him. Our prayers for the repose of his
soul. God Bless
Romy & Rose Go
There are places in your mind that will forever remember his stories, traditions, humor and generosity.
Memories of Ben will always hold an important place in your life.
The love you shared will keep him close forever.
With sympathy
God Bless
My heart is grieving, hearing of your early transfer, you were a great friend and a true shipmate, I will always remember lot’s of ‘”tawanan” whenever your around. We will always remember you here in Jacksonville. We luv you man…Our Condolences !!!
Our prayers and deepest sympathy are with you and your loved ones during this trying moment. Just hang in there, Nilda. Una-una lang iyan. We’ll all go there. Just think of the happy moments you shared together with Ben. Take care and God Bless you and all your loved ones!
Ric, Connie and Family.
Nilda and Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
May God bless you and keep you safe.
The Edmonds
So sorry for the loss of your husband. You will always be remembered in my prayers.
Nilda and Family, our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family. Ben was such a special person to all he will always be remembered. May God Bless all doing this difficult time and may God give us strength and understanding, Ben will truly be missed.
Mare…you and your family are in my prayers. Uncle Ben you will truly be missed.
If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together…there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think, but the most important thing is, even if we’re apart…I’ll always be with you.
-Winnie the Pooh
I was saddened to hear Ben’s death. Nilda and Children, I extend my deepest sympathy. His passing is a tremendous pain. I hope the memories of his life with you help you carry through these sad times. He was a wonderful person and he will be greatly missed.
My prayers and thoughts are with you. Tessie and Family
I was stationed with him in VA-176. I saw him a couple times at the commisary at Oceana since those days. He actually tried to get me to go to work at siemens one time. A great guy, always had a smile and would make you smile. I will always remember the first time i met him. He was actually my division chief. I was an AD like him. My heart and prayers go out to his family. May GOD bless you all.
I am sorry for your loss. I truly enjoyed serving with Ben in the Navy, he was a good friend and sailor.
Nilda we were so sorry to hear you lost your Ben. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family through this terrible time.
Our deepest sympathy to your family. Will be praying for the repose of Ben.
I have known Ben Gozar since 1975. A very simple and a fun loving man who lived his life to the fullest. Totally dedicated to the welfare of his family. He is the Godfather of my youngest son, Brian.
Playing basketball is our passion in our younger years. In 1987, he is one of the leaders who organized the first All Filipino Basketball League in Jacksonville. Together, we’ve car pooled and/or waited at the air terminal for space available flight during our tour of duties in Norfolk and Keywest. There is no dull moment in the company of Ben Gozar. He is non-stop in telling his jokes and funny stories. He is one of a kind. I will truly miss a good laugh from a true friend.
Nilda, we were very sad to hear the news of Ben’s sudden passing. We want to extend our deepest sympathies to you and your family. We will never forget the many happy times we’ve spent together. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and the kids. To our dear friend Ben, you will be sadly missed and may you rest in peace.
To Gozar Family,
Please accept my deepest condolence to your family’s lost.
GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Our deepest condolences to Nilda, Janice, Elaine and Alex. The untimely passing of Ben brought sorrow into our hearts. A true, caring and loving friend, you will be sorely missed by our family. REST IN PEACE my dear friend.
Rest in peace my beloved Tito Ben…Thank you for everything..You will always be in our hearts, we will not forget you…We love you so much…Peace.
Tito Ben,
Though we don’t get the chance to spend that much time together, you are always dear to our hearts…Thank you for all the help you have given us especially to my Tatay…We love you…
Cha-cha & Bong
May you rest in peace Tito Ben…Our deepest condolonces to your family…
Lim Family
So sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Cindy Cecilia
Ben is always in our hearts forever. May GOD’s love and light surround him for eternity.
Sorry for the lost. The last time I saw kuya Ben was 2001 when mama carmeling was here. I’m so sorry that I didn’t keep in touch cause life here in the states are very hectic. I’m really sorry I could not make it cause I just had a major surgery this week and still recovering. Love you all, and take care.
Ben Gozar is my very first person that I knew when we arrived in Jacksonville. He becomes my compare to my youngest daughter Crystal. Ben is an honest and compassionate person, and he helps people who are in need. I planned on seeing my pareng Ben 2 months ago when I travelled to Washington, DC and both of us are so excited since we have not seen each other for years, and he already planned taking me to a A-GO-GO bar, but never happened due to change of my schedule. I regretted that this meeting never happened. Not only I lost a compare, I lost a very good/best friend.
Words can not express how deeply sorry we are for your loss. Your dad is a wonderful man and he will be truly missed. You and your family are in our prayers. We ask that God send his blessings to you during this difficult time. love always,
The Hilario family fr Germany
Nilda, Alex, and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. May God bless and keep you.
Beth
We are saddened to hear the loss of Ben. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time.
our heartfelt condolences to tita nilda and family. we may be miles apart, but you will always be in our prayers. we are here for you.
For me and my siblings, tito ben’s name entails joy, pleasure, abundance. its always exciting every time we hear his name more so when we see him. As we grew, it was like tito ben was just on the other side of the street all our lives through mama’s unending telltales of him.
Tito Ben,
Our deepest gratitude to you for the tangible and intangible things you’ve shared with us. Whisper our love to mama when you see her, tell inay and tatay how we miss them. In your last moments, we were with you, praying. Like mama, the legacy you left all off us is love and kindness. Thank you.
Now, when i hear the name Tito Ben entails a tinge of sadness, maybe this is how life really is. We have to walk on the earth with eternal sadness in the corners of our heart.
During our early NAVY years, you have shown us your care, toughness and finese. A loving husband and father. A true friend….GO!GO!. You will be missed ‘Dre. Rest and peace my friend and thank you very much to all memories.
OUR CONDOLENCES TO GOZAR FAMILY. YOU’RE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ALWAYS.
Tito Ben, deep sadness and sorrow isn’t enough to describe how i feel. You are so good to me since i was a kid. You told me before, that you and mama are very close before, now you will see each other in Heaven. It pains me that i will never see u again after your last visit here at home. Everything that you thought me, every pointers in basketball, every smart antics you tipped me in playing, i used it all effectively. Thank you for being the happy guy that you are, the father-like image to me, a family man. I will never ever ever ever ever ever forget you. You will stay here in my heart forever.
Janice you an your family our in our prayers.
Dear Gozar Family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
We are sorry for your loss.
Princess Anne Memorial Park
Anthony,Kim,Jessica,Cindy,Tara, Ian.
My condolences to the Gozar family. My heart and prayers go out to you all.
To the Gozar Family:
With our deepest sympathy and he will always be remember as one of our best friend here in Jacksonville,Florida.A great guy.
Your best friend,
Philip Mata
Our deep condolences……
From,
Nanay Binay Atienza and family
Our heartfelt condolence to the family of Ben Gozar from the Torcuator family
A jolly person I ever see. Ben we will be missing you Specially Titio Dondong We love you.
Ben,
I will always remember you the happy guy, my best friend forever. I will missed you and I will always pray for you.
Love,
susan
May the Lord be with the family and may he provide comfort. Remember the goods times and his smile.G
resending my note of condolence dated july 22nd…
We, the Bunag siblings and Kaziras family are conveying our deepest condolences to the siblings and family of our beloved cousin Ben, whose untimely death shocked and clouded us with grief.
Who among us will ever forget Ben? He is my favorite and dandiest male cousin. Personally, Ben made my Theology classes more bearable with his unending supply of harmless jokes, punctuated by hilarious laughter from classmates and professor likewise.
His memory will forever remain with me. It was difficult to write this mail and remain emotionless. It is like saying good-bye to a brother and my childhood friend.
May his passage from this earth be spiritually peaceful and comfortable. Despite this distance, our thoughts are with you.
With much love and concern,
Emily
My deepest condolences to Nilda and the family.
i love you ben, you’re a good brother. i will always pray for you..thanks for all the things that you thought me and the love you gave to our family.
I really miss you, Uncle Ben it’s sad I only got to see you a few times.
I took good care of you since you were born and I saw you grew up as a very handsome boy, until the time that you were with me in times of troubles. Your courage and generosity will be remembered. I had wish that God took me instead of you cause I know that you had so many dreams unfulfilled for the family. Your memories would remain for the rest of my life. Nobody who knows you would ever forget you.
I love you so much and see you in the next life.
Tito Ben… We miss you!
I’ll always be grateful that you’ve been part of our lives..and letting us feel the true meaning of the word “family”.
I love you po. You’ll always be in our hearts. ¦
The magnitude of life is overwhelming we’ll never know when is the real
time, just like how you’ve gone so fast :'( We’re grieving but I know
angels are here to help us take
it peace by peace. All God’s angels come to us disguised just like
…you. Thank you would never be enough for all the things you’ve done
and given us but still THANK YOU
Uncle Ben for being an angel, a hero and simply just letting us feel
the true meaning of “family”. You will always be in our hearts and we
will always be missing you. I LOVE YOU Tito Ben!!! ¦
Autie Nilda, Ate Janice, Elaine, Alex, Marisa and Mila..our family’s right behind you..we love you and God bless 🙂
Condolences from our family. May he rest in peace in the kingdom of our Lord God.
The toughest man I’ve ever known. My brother and fellow chief. As we remember your birthday today, I kwow that you are celebrating in the afterlife with Inay, Tatay, Nona and Maritess. You’ll always be with me, bro.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!
Everyone misses you
I Love You
I have compiled some email messages from Jacksonville for Ben and his family. So long my friend we will miss you!
Email Messages from Jacksonville:
On behalf of the Filipino American Veterans Association, I want to convey to your family our heartfelt condolences in the passing of your husband, Ben. This organization lost, not only a devoted member, a strong partner and an advocate to veterans and their families, but most of all, he was a great father and a provider. He will be missed.
Don Villanueva
President, Filipno American Veterans Society
Jacksonville, Fl
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Just to let you know that sympathy flowers has been ordered for the family of Ben Gozar of Virginia Beach, VA.
Del Papel
Secretary, FAVS
Jacksonville, Fl
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Sorry to hear that. Ben was a good friend and fun to be around with. We had great time when they lived in Jax.
Thanks
Art G. Jacksonville, Fl
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I regret I did not see my pareng Ben when I was in DC. I was scheduled to see him after my project meeting. Let’s pray for his soul.
Claro M. Jacksonville, Fl
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Ben used to hang out with us in our Apt. in Riverbank. Us, like, Rene Amante,
Jessie Cudal, Mike Ramat, Joe Bislig, Rick (Gorio)Sena, Carlos Eisle and et al. I kept
Ben’s email about the good old days when were younger and living in the Philippines
(please see attached).
Ben, may you rest in peace my friend and God bless your soul.
Ed Abaya, San Francisco, Ca
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Likewise, Ben and family has been a long…long time friend and squadronmate..he’ll be missed.
Ed C. Cmdr, USN (Ret). Jacksonville, Fl
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Please extend our condolences from Rose and myself, he was a great friend
Romy G., Jacksonville, Fl
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It’s been one month since the greatest man I ever known has left this world for a better place. I miss him more everyday. I pray that he will give me strength to carry on the family duties, the knowledge to make a difference and peace that I may continue the next day. I love and miss you, Daddy. Till I see you again.
23 aug
mare at sa buong familia
labis ang kalungkutan ng buo kong familia sa malungkot na balita sa maagang paglisan ni pareng ben at ganoon din ang inaanak niyang si ronald arciaga nakikiramay kaming laat sa inyong buong familia
hindi ko malilimutan ang masaya naming pinagsamahan
the arciaga family calapan oriental mindoro guam
condolence to the family. will surely miss you ben.
Yesterday was 6 months… I miss you sooo much papa. 🙁
I miss you sooo much.
Ben was my supervisor in Key West. We hung out like brothers and traveled back and forth to Jacksonville EVERY weekend to see our families. I will never forget Benjamin Gozar.