In memoriam: David Gonzales, collegiate associate professor, mechanical engineering

David Gonzales, collegiate associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, passed away on Monday, Feb. 16. He was 66.

Gonzales earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of New Mexico in 1983, then his master’s and doctorate from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989 and 1993 respectively.

Gonzales worked throughout his career in both academics and industry. Before joining Virginia Tech in 2022, he was part of the team at GE Aviation in Lynn, Massachusetts, where he analyzed turboshaft engines. Prior to that, he was a member of the technical staff for the MIT Lincoln Laboratory, an adjunct professor at Boston University, and a design engineer at Lockheed Austin Division.

He was hired at Virginia Tech around the same time as fellow instructors Jeff Warfford and Matt Nowinski. Warfford remembers with fondness the bond the three formed.

“David and I both came from similar industrial backgrounds, and we supported each other that first semester in our transition to academia and became great friends,” said Warfford. “When Matt [Nowinski] joined the department the following semester, we became the ‘Collegiate Compadres.’ David often talked about how happy he was here at VT after years of working in a large corporation. He will be missed, and it’s going to be quite a while before I get over that feeling or stop catching myself thinking that David should be in his office.”

Students in Gonzales’ classes found him to be genuine and personable, bringing his wealth of experience to the classroom to offer real-life examples. He was honored with an Excellence in Teaching award from the Virginia Tech College of Engineering in 2024.

“The loss of David Gonzales is heartbreaking,” said mechanical engineering department head Brian Lattimer. “To his students, he was a mentor. To the mechanical engineering team, he was a trusted colleague and a joy to work with. He will long be remembered for his warm smile, thoughtfulness, and dedication to educating students.”

In honor of Gonzales’ service to students and colleagues, a wreath was laid at War Memorial Chapel on Thursday, Feb. 19. A memorial service will be held at Lifeline Church in Christiansburg on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 2 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend, and the service will be streamed on Lifeline's YouTube channel.

The obituary is available from Horne Funeral Home.

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