Javier Oliva Gonzalez
June 11, 1950 — March 30, 2023
Javier Oliva Gonzalez was born in Tamaulipas, Mexico to Sebastian Oliva and Guadalupe Gonzalez on June 6,1950. He died in his home in Downey on Thursday March 30, 2023 due to cancer. He was 72 years young.
Javier went from rags to riches with sheer determination and iron will. He made his wealth with grit, ambition, charm and a work ethic like no other. He worked at J.D. Fields Lumber Co. selling lumber with the kind of silver tongue that could sell sand to an Arab and ice to an Eskimo. He thrived in sales and made the majority of his living there.
Javier loved sports, music, westerns and mobsters. His interest in baseball went as far as coaching little league for a number of years. Fun fact: One season as an incentive to perform well he would pay his players 25 cents for base hits and a dollar for home runs. He had shed a few tears for Tommy Lasorda and then Vin Scully and he would bleed Dodger blue if you cut him.
His favorite basketball team is the Los Angeles Lakers, favorite player Kobe Bryant. He also bleeds purple and gold. His College football team the USC Trojans and NFL Team the Washington Redskins especially in their Joe Gibb era. He also liked Boxing and has video tapes of Tyson and Del La Hoya fights.
He would listen to all kinds of music from Frank Sinatra to Ramon Ayala. Bob Marley to Biggie Smalls. He could get down with Kool and the Gang and Fly with Sugar Ray. He was the Shazam app before it came out saying "I'll give you a dollar if you tell me who sings that song" He would time you and you couldn't cheat and use your phone.
Javier would say that Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood could do no wrong. Especially Denzel. Man on Fire is one of his favorite movies and would quote it throughout the day after just seeing the title on the tv guide. He would constantly quote lines from classic tv shows and his favorite movies. They would range from "Do you feel lucky punk?" To "Elizabeth, I'm coming to join you honey!" And even Cookie Monster from Sesame Street "I like cookies!"
Javier was one of the greatest patriarchs a family could have. He had a big heart and often struggled being tough but fair to those who needed financial help. He would often say "pay me back when you can, it doesn't have to be right away." He understood the struggle more than anybody because he came from nothing and had earned everything he worked for and then some.
During one of his last weeks on this earth Javier said "When you're gone, you're not really gone if there are those who still remember you." Javier lives on through the memories of his three children Joseph Paul Gonzalez, Danny Sebastian Gonzalez and Gina Liset Gonzalez. His ten brothers and sisters. His nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Also including his friends,coworkers and customers. Even those of you who took the time to read this and felt like you got an idea of who Javier Gonzalez was. Thank you for helping keep his memory alive.
A Loving Husband, Caring Father, Grandfather, Brother, Nino, Tio, Friend.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.
Javier went from rags to riches with sheer determination and iron will. He made his wealth with grit, ambition, charm and a work ethic like no other. He worked at J.D. Fields Lumber Co. selling lumber with the kind of silver tongue that could sell sand to an Arab and ice to an Eskimo. He thrived in sales and made the majority of his living there.
Javier loved sports, music, westerns and mobsters. His interest in baseball went as far as coaching little league for a number of years. Fun fact: One season as an incentive to perform well he would pay his players 25 cents for base hits and a dollar for home runs. He had shed a few tears for Tommy Lasorda and then Vin Scully and he would bleed Dodger blue if you cut him.
His favorite basketball team is the Los Angeles Lakers, favorite player Kobe Bryant. He also bleeds purple and gold. His College football team the USC Trojans and NFL Team the Washington Redskins especially in their Joe Gibb era. He also liked Boxing and has video tapes of Tyson and Del La Hoya fights.
He would listen to all kinds of music from Frank Sinatra to Ramon Ayala. Bob Marley to Biggie Smalls. He could get down with Kool and the Gang and Fly with Sugar Ray. He was the Shazam app before it came out saying "I'll give you a dollar if you tell me who sings that song" He would time you and you couldn't cheat and use your phone.
Javier would say that Denzel Washington and Clint Eastwood could do no wrong. Especially Denzel. Man on Fire is one of his favorite movies and would quote it throughout the day after just seeing the title on the tv guide. He would constantly quote lines from classic tv shows and his favorite movies. They would range from "Do you feel lucky punk?" To "Elizabeth, I'm coming to join you honey!" And even Cookie Monster from Sesame Street "I like cookies!"
Javier was one of the greatest patriarchs a family could have. He had a big heart and often struggled being tough but fair to those who needed financial help. He would often say "pay me back when you can, it doesn't have to be right away." He understood the struggle more than anybody because he came from nothing and had earned everything he worked for and then some.
During one of his last weeks on this earth Javier said "When you're gone, you're not really gone if there are those who still remember you." Javier lives on through the memories of his three children Joseph Paul Gonzalez, Danny Sebastian Gonzalez and Gina Liset Gonzalez. His ten brothers and sisters. His nine grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Also including his friends,coworkers and customers. Even those of you who took the time to read this and felt like you got an idea of who Javier Gonzalez was. Thank you for helping keep his memory alive.
A Loving Husband, Caring Father, Grandfather, Brother, Nino, Tio, Friend.
Condolences may be sent to the family through our website.
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