Erik Gonzales, 21 years old, died on June 12, 2020.
He was born in Dallas, Texas on September 23, 1998, but had lived in Rancho
Peñasquitos since the age of two, attending Sundance Elementary School and Mesa
Verde Middle School. As a freshman and sophomore, he attended Westview High
School where he played on the football and baseball teams. He graduated from Mt.
Carmel High School in 2017, continuing on to Miramar Community College.

In the Rancho Peñasquitos area, he played in the Pop Warner Football program and
Little League Baseball. He loved playing video games, watching UFC events with
his mom and going to Padre games with his grandfather. As well as playing sports,
he followed and studied professional teams, especially basketball, baseball,
football, and numerous UFC fighters. He could banter and discuss teams and
players with the best of enthusiasts. Erik also had many other passions that he
pursued while growing up: snowboarding, paintball, mixed martial arts, body
building, and learning to play the guitar and saxophone.

Erik was well-spoken and personable, loved animals, and dreamed of having a dog
of his own. In recent years he worked at KFC and at Domino's Pizza in Rancho
Peñasquitos, and often talked about owning a Domino's franchise someday. Before
his tragic death, he and his family were hopeful about his future. No one doubted
his great potential to succeed in life. His recent struggles do not diminish his
family's loving memories—his growing-up years in Rancho Peñasquitos, family
vacations and extended family holiday gatherings, sleepovers with cousins and
friends, video game nights, beach days, his smile, and the joy and happiness he
brought to their homes and their lives.

Erik is survived by his great-grandmother, Genevieve Gonzales; mother, Karrie
Gonzales and her partner, Joe Palermo; grandfather, Rob Gonzales and his wife, Sally;
grandmother, Sandra Gonzales; grandmother, Joan Crouch; and father, Chris
Greer.

There will only be an open viewing for family and friends on Thursday, June 25th
from 4-8pm at Poway-Bernardo Mortuary, 13243 Poway Road, Poway, CA.
{Celebration of Life is being planned for late September, 2020}

In lieu of flowers, the family hopes you'll consider making a donation in Erik's
name to a local animal shelter or Shatterproof.org

https://www.shatterproof.org/