A recent photo of Paul Gonzales at his job in the Gas, Water and Sewer Division at the Los Alamos County Public Works Department. Courtesy/LAC

By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com

Los Alamos High School (LAHS) Assistant Wrestling Coach Paul Gonzales died Wednesday morning in a tragic car accident on N.M. 502 near the Otowi Bridge in San Ildefonso Pueblo.

“It is with deep regret that we inform you about a recent loss to our school community. This morning our Assistant Wrestling Coach, Paul Gonzales, died tragically in an accident,” LAHS Principal Carter Payne wrote in an email Wednesday to parents. “Coach Wilson informed the team this afternoon at the beginning of practice, and the students had some time to process the news together this evening.”

The high school has resources in place to help with the needs of students in a time of crisis, Payne said. He urged parents to use the school’s resources to support their children.

“He was such a great person,” Athletic Director Ann Stewart told the Los Alamos Daily Post. “He served as a mentor figure for the kids in the program. He really wanted them to succeed in life.”

Gonzales got involved in the program as a coach when his older son joined the wrestling team. He has since graduated and his younger brother is now on the team, Stewart said.

“Coach Gonzales was a father figure to the wrestlers,” Coach Lawrence Wilson told the Post. “Most of the wrestlers grew up with Coach. Coach was a teacher and mentor to the wrestlers and was always there for them if they needed anything. He greeted everyone with a big smile and was always a positive man. We will miss him tremendously.”

Gonzales worked as a senior pipefitter in the Gas, Water and Sewer Division at the Los Alamos County Public Works Department.

The Gonzales family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses. The account may be accessed here.