Tributes

On October 13, 2025, our father Dr. Carlos Francisco Gonzalez MD, passed away at the age of 89 from multiple complications of dementia. He was a true renaissance man, a polyglot, a pianist, a neurosurgeon and neuroradiologist and forever a student of life. Born in Bogota, Colombia, Carlos was the oldest of two boys, raised by an extraordinary single mother who took over her deceased husband’s business to support their small family. As a child, Carlos had a singular goal- to become a concert pianist. When that didn’t happen, he took that passion into medicine- finishing medical school in Bogota and setting his sights on international residencies: Germany, Scotland and finally New York. Shortly after, he came to Philadelphia, with his piano of course, and convinced a resident to attend a Rubinstein concert with him. Halfway through the concert, the resident switched seats with a beautiful blond-haired blue eyed German lady, Ingrid Niemann, so that she could sit closer to Carlos and be charmed by his masterful German skills. And thus began a 48 year marriage, a multitude of books on neuroradiology, countless presented papers at congresses around the world, and two beautiful multilingual, excellently educated and incredible daughters- Stephanie and Alexandra. Carlos practiced neuroradiology all over Philadelphia- Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital, Temple University and Drexel. His work inspired multiple generations of medical students. Unfortunately, Carlos is preceded in death by our mother, Ingrid, whose 33 year battle with Parkinson’s came to an end in 2020. Carlos was her caregiver, partner and MD, championing new medicines, operations, or trials - never giving up. It is without a doubt that he played a huge role in helping her live with the disease. All throughout his life, Carlos continued with his lifelong passions: piano, languages, and travel. He was generous in his knowledge and wisdom; he was quick to laugh and even quicker to pick up his guitar; he spent summers watching Wimbledon, learning French on his Walkman, playing chess and tennis with his grandchildren, and buying books about art, and LPs of piano concertos. Our father was a true gentleman. And we will miss him greatly. Carlos is survived by his daughters: Stephanie Hijazi & son-in-law Mohamed Hijazi and their two children, Samir and Leila; Alexandra de Gonzalez and daughter Sabine. He is preceded in death by his brother, Jaime Gonzalez, and survived by his sister-in-law Lucia, and his nieces and nephews: Maria Constanza and her husband Alejandro Ramirez, daughters Isabella and Daniela; Felipe and wife Maria Fernanda Piescacon, daughter Marie Paz; and Ana Lucia, her partner Andres Ticino, and their children, Sami and Emilia. A memorial will be held in his honor in the music room at Beaumont at Bryn Mawr on Saturday November 22nd, at 2pm. Please reach out to xandradeg@gmail.com or stephanie.hijazi@gmail.com for further information.

Tributes

Dr. Carlos Francisco Gonzalez MD

November 24, 1935 - October 13, 2025