Gonzales Benitez Foundation

On August 1, 2023, Edward Mochizuki Gonzales died peacefully in his home in Lafayette surrounded by family after a 15 month battle with brain cancer. In April 2022, Ed was diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma. He faced each and every challenge during his illness with a smile, a positive outlook and gratitude. Ed was 53 years old.

In 2011, Ed founded the Gonzales/Benitez Foundation, a non-profit organization, with his cousin, Mark Benitez. Donations can be made to the Gonzales/Benitez Foundation and will be allocated to the following causes:

Project Pink Wheels Foundation:

Contra Costa County Fire Department and Local 1230 offer support to all those touched by cancer in our community. Among other services, individuals within the

community can celebrate final chemotherapy and radiation appointments with rides to their final cancer treatment within their service area in a pink fire truck signed by fellow cancer warriors and 1 family member may ride along. (Ed rode in the pink fire truck to and from his last radiation treatment at UCSF. He also wrote the quote, “Mind over matter, mind over cancer”.)

The Campaign to Conquer Cancer:

UCSF/John Muir Health Cancer Pavilion: The 155,000 square-foot cancer center is targeted to open in February 2024 and will offer patients the most advanced screening, treatment, prevention, survivorship services, research, and clinical trials. (Ed was treated at both John Muir Health and UCSF. His story was also featured at the 2022John Muir Health Gala held to raise funds for this building.)

Kindness Matters:

Ed started a program in 2021 and gifted 2 Apple laptops to 2 aspiring high school students graduating from Deer Valley High School. We hope to continue this program and others that focus on “Paying It Forward”.

Maui Strong-Hawaii Community Foundation:

Maui was a second home and sanctuary to Ed. Undoubtedly he would have already flown down to Maui to volunteer his help.