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Our father, Francisco Antonio Gomez, spent his life showing up for others.
As a father, a soldier, a coach, and a mentor, he spent his life lifting others higher than they believed they could rise. With strength in his character, conviction in his words, and generosity in his heart, he carried the burdens, hopes, and dreams of countless people around him. Many stood taller in this world because he once stood beside them.
Today, as we say goodbye to the man who gave so much of himself to others, our family is asking for support to help us bring him home and honor the extraordinary life of service, generosity, and leadership he leaves behind.
As we work to bring him home and properly honor his life, our family is facing unexpected costs during one of the most difficult seasons we have ever known. With humility, we are asking for the support of the community he loved and served so faithfully. We are working to finalize arrangements in the coming weeks, and every contribution made now helps us move forward during this deeply painful time.
A Life That Left Its Mark
Some people live quiet lives. Others leave an imprint on every community they touch.
Our father, Francisco Gomez, was one of those people.
As a young boy, Francisco immigrated to the United States carrying the same dream shared by so many, the hope of building a better future. America quickly became more than just a place he lived. It became a country he deeply loved. That love grew into a profound sense of patriotism and duty.
His Service to This Country
In response to that calling, Francisco chose to give back to the nation that had given him so much. He enlisted in the United States Army, where he proudly served his country.
His time in the military reflected the character that would define the rest of his life: courage, discipline, and a deep commitment to something greater than himself.
Building Something Greater
After completing his service, he settled in Florida, where his entrepreneurial spirit and compassion for others led him to establish HandiVan, a transportation company based in Miami.
Through this work, he served some of the most vulnerable members of the community, providing transportation for elderly patients and children who needed reliable access to medical care. For many families, his company was far more than a service. It was a lifeline.
The Coach, The Mentor, The Father Figure
While living in Florida, Francisco began coaching youth baseball, first pouring his heart into mentoring his own sons.
What began as a father simply sharing his love for the game soon became the foundation for something much greater. Under his guidance, his sons would go on to pursue baseball at the highest levels, a testament not only to talent, but to the unwavering discipline, encouragement, and belief that a devoted father can instill in his children.
Francisco’s passion for the game and his natural ability to inspire young athletes quickly became evident across the baseball community. His deep knowledge of the sport, combined with his charismatic leadership and genuine care for his players, led him to mentor countless young athletes throughout South Florida, where he became one of the most respected and sought after coaches in the league.
To those who played under him, he was far more than a coach standing on the sidelines. He was a mentor, a teacher, and often a father figure. He believed deeply in the potential of every young player who stepped onto the field.
He was not the coach shouting instructions from the dugout. He was the one pulling a struggling kid aside after practice. The one who remembered every player’s name, every player’s story, every player’s dream.
The lessons he taught extended far beyond baseball. Discipline, perseverance, confidence, and the belief that your potential is never limited by where you began.
Many of the young men our father coached went on to build lives and careers shaped by the values he instilled in them. His encouragement and belief in others left a lasting imprint that continues to live on in the lives he helped shape.
His Roots, His Mission, His Legacy
Our father's commitment to helping others did not stop at the borders of one city or even one country.
His heart remained deeply connected to his roots in the Dominican Republic, and he eventually returned there with a renewed mission to uplift the next generation.
Baseball had always been one of his greatest passions. A talented player himself, he understood the discipline, hope, and opportunity the sport could offer young people.
Determined to give back, he helped establish baseball camps alongside Major League Baseball players, working tirelessly to mentor and guide young Hispanic athletes. He sought to bridge the gap between raw talent and opportunity, offering these young men something invaluable: a mentor who believed in their dreams.
You Knew Him Too
Many of the people reading this today knew our father during different seasons of his life.
Some knew him as a fellow soldier who served beside him in the United States Army.
Others knew him as a coach on a baseball field in South Florida or the Dominican Republic.
Some knew him as a business owner, a mentor, or a charismatic friend.
And many simply knew him as the beloved father of one of his children.
No matter how you came to know him, you likely experienced the same thing we did: a man who believed deeply in helping others and who gave his time, energy, and encouragement freely.
If our father ever offered you guidance, believed in your potential, helped create an opportunity for you, or simply showed up when it mattered most, we humbly ask you to consider helping our family now.
Our father spent his life investing in others and building community around him. In this moment, your support allows us to carry forward the same spirit of generosity and service that defined his life.
Honoring His Life and Closing This Chapter
Losing our father has left an immeasurable void in our lives.
In the midst of grieving the loss of a man who meant so much to so many, our family is also navigating the difficult practical realities that follow such a loss.
Because our father passed far from home, our family is now working through the complex process of handling medical care costs, funeral arrangements, and the legal steps required to properly settle his affairs.
These responsibilities have created an unexpected financial burden during a time when our family is still processing profound grief.
Funds raised through this campaign will help cover
-Outstanding medical expenses prior to his passing
-Funeral and cremation services
-Legal and administrative costs required to finalize his estate
-Government processing necessary to close his affairs properly
Our goal is simple: to honor the life he lived and fulfill the responsibilities he left behind with the same integrity and care that defined his life.
Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help ease this burden during a time when our family is navigating tremendous loss.
How You Can Help Right Now
If you are unable to give today, you can still help in a powerful way.
Please consider copying and sharing this link with just two or three people who may have known him. Even a simple message saying "I wanted you to know about this" can make a difference.
You would be surprised how far one share can travel when it carries a story worth telling.
For the many players he coached, the veterans he served beside, the families he helped, and the friends who knew his generosity, supporting our family now is another way his spirit of community continues forward.
With humility & gratitude,
Yanire Gomez Mendes and the Gomez Family