Elgin business owner, 41, dies of cancer
Victor Gonzalez knew a lot of people, said his friend Tonya Hudson, executive director of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin. It was among his greatest strengths — an ability to connect with people from all backgrounds.
“He spoke from the heart,” Hudson said. “When you'd talk to Victor, you could feel the passion he had. And it was contagious.”
Victor Gonzalez is the third member of the Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin to die within the past year. Gonzalez, 41, died Friday after a battle with stomach cancer.
Gonzalez, the owner of Elgin Jewelers, 11 N. State St., also managed Ravenheart Coffee. His friend and neighborhood association colleague Patricia Keeney died of cancer on Dec. 27, 2010. On Sept. 29, his friend Steve Munson died, also a former president of the neighborhood association.
Gonzalez had a vision for Elgin, Hudson and other close friends said. He spent recent years as president and vice-president of the organization's board of directors.
Pietro Verone, owner and founder of the Villa Verone restaurants in Elgin and Geneva, knew Gonzalez, Keeney and Munson. He said they all were tireless supporters of downtown Elgin, coming up with new ways to lure people in and make Elgin an exciting, pleasant place to be.
Without Gonzalez, Verone said Elgin will be missing one of its biggest supporters.
“He had a lot of good ideas,” Verone said. “We're gonna miss him. It's gonna be a big void.”
Sigi Psimenos, president of the League of Women Voters of the Elgin Area, said Gonzalez was the first person she met in downtown Elgin when she moved to the area 10 years ago.
She, too, said Gonzalez's passion for downtown Elgin was contagious, and that he believed revitalizing the downtown area was essential for “the survival of Elgin.”
More so than his passion for the city, Psimenos said Gonzalez's behind-the-scenes efforts are what reflected his true character. When his close friend, Keeney, fell ill and could no longer operate her store — Keeney's Sporting Goods — many people stepped in to help. But Gonzalez did more than that, Psimenos said. He was at Keeney's house every morning.
“He would sit with her directly and ask her what she needed,” Psimenos said. “It was more of a personal contact. He was there when she was dying. But that's who Victor is. He's always there for you.”
Although Verone is 18 years older than Gonzalez, he said Gonzalez was an inspiration to him. He knew Gonzalez from the day he opened his restaurant four years ago.
“I hope we can all kind of make his dreams come true,” Verone said, “really get this downtown Elgin thing going. He would want that.”