George L. "Jake" "The Hummer" Gomes, 62, of New Bedford died October 3, 2008 at home after a courageous battle.
He was the husband of Roberta J. (Roderick) Gomes.
Born in New Bedford, the son of the late Antonio "Geech" and Lydia (Freitas) Gomes, he lived in New Bedford all of his life.
He was a parishioner of Our Lady of the Assumption Church and served as a Eucharistic Minister.
Jake was the first Cape Verdean Massachusetts State Police Trooper, serving 20 years until his retirement in 1988. He later was head of security of New Bedford Fund Site and was currently serving on the Licensing Board for the City of New Bedford. Jake was also a longshoreman and business agent for the I.L.A. Union.
He served in the U.S. Army, 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War. He was the recipient of the Parachutist Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 O/S Service Bar, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.
Jake was a member of the Cape Verdean-American Veterans Association, the Cape Verdean Band Club; the Y-A Club and other social clubs.
Survivors include his wife; 3 daughters, Shaynne L. Thompson and her husband Daryl and Tracy L. Stewart, all of Oak Ridge, TN and Stephanie "Kym" Gomes of New Bedford; 5 brothers, Paul Gomes of New Bedford, Rev. Martin Gomes, ss.cc. of Nassau, Bahamas, Thomas Gomes of Wareham, Rev. Edmund Gomes of Lynchburg, VA and Stephen Gomes of Fall River; 7 sisters, Mary Louise Rodrigues, Linda Gomes, Helen Ackah, Regina Jackson, Wendy Fumo, Debbie Cruz and Kim Cruz, all of New Bedford; 10 grandchildren, Terrell and Walter, who Jake helped raise and his other special grandchildren, Alexia, Johnny, Isaiah, Amari, Durrell, Caelyn, Keyanna and Kylee; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jake was a friend and role model to many.
He was the brother of the late Ann Gomes Oliveira.
Funeral from the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford Monday, October 6th at 7:45 AM. Funeral Mass at Our Lady of the Assumption Church at 9 AM. Burial will follow in Rural Cemetery. Visiting hours will be on Sunday, October 5th from 4-9 PM. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney St., Boston, MA 02115.