All of us in the tactical firearms training world were stunned at the untimely death this past weekend of Paul Gomez. Paul was in many ways the ideal instructor for life-saving topics. Devoid of ego, he was devoted to studying what was out there with an analytical mind, correlating it with observed street reality, and seeking out new approaches that worked better. He taught synergistically, with a mix of combat shooting, hand to hand fighting, and tactical emergency medicine.
At conclaves of those who teach these things, there would be some who would come, dispense their wisdom, and then leave, as if to say “There is nothing my peers can teach me.” Then there were those like Paul, who when he wasn’t teaching was absorbing someone else’s training, filtering it through both his intensive study and his own analytical mind, to see what newer, better things he could share with good people who would find themselves in harm’s way. Paul Gomez was utterly devoted to the art and science of defeating violence, by strategy and negotiation if possible, and by expertly applied countervailing violence if not.
I knew Paul as a student in his class, and as an instructor when he was in my class, and he was a professional on both ends of it. (The ideal teacher generally is the ideal student.) I didn’t know him as well as I wish I could have, though, and will leave his eulogy to those who knew him longer and better. One such is the testament of our mutual friend Andy Stanford, which can be found in the opening post of the thread on Paul’s untimely death in the excellent Smith & Wesson Forum, at http://smith-wessonforum.com/lounge/253192-rip-paul-gomez.html. If you can access Facebook, you’ll find a moving testimonial to Paul Gomez written by another mutual friend and colleague, Dr. William Aprill, at http://www.facebook.com/PaulGomez.TheTrainingBum/posts/3720833392127
This good man died far too soon, not yet at his 41st birthday. You can share some of his wisdom on his YouTube Channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/Gomez8136. He left young children behind. Colleagues and friends in the training community are putting together a memorial seminar, which will gather many of the top names in self-defense, with all proceeds going to Paul’s kids. As soon as I have the details, I’ll post them here. It will be a great opportunity to get some top-quality training from “the best and the brightest” all at once with a huge saving in travel expense, and to pay tribute to a fine human being who devoted his life to teaching good people to protect themselves and others from evil.
Vaya con Dios, Brother Gomez. You were taken from us far too soon. May you rest in the same peace you worked so hard for others to achieve.
Amen.
Thank You Mr. Ayoob for Posting this Information. I’m going to try to make it to the “Memorial-Seminar”, after getting more details from your posting.
Know This: The spirit lives on after the death of the body; May we all have the Good-Luck to meet this man in the next world…R.I.P. brother Gomez.
This is so sad.
R.I.P. Mr. Gomez, you will be missed.
Mas, there are so many people that make a difference in the world as a whole. I wish I knew him. However, somehow he will touch my life through people like you and other people he touched that will touch my life. Pay it forward. Let’s give like Paul.
“Services for Paul Gomez will be held Friday June 8, 2012. Viewing will be from 10am-12pm with a memorial service at 12pm at Greenoaks 9595 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge, La 70815” ♥
Good post by both you and Andy. I can’t seem to bring up the facebook page though. Can you verify the URL?
Mas, any info on cause of death? It just seems strange that there is no mention that I can find on the web. No “long illness”, hearth attack, car crash, etc. Like I said that is just real strange.
The FB url was correct but it was not linked, fixed it so it is linked now.
Apparently related to Paul’s diabetes.
Mike, I was told cause of death was “complications related to diabetes.”
Thanks Mas with provoding us with this information. The shooting industry certainly has lost a true warrior far too soon.
My sincere condolences go out to the Gomez family, may he rest in peace.
I had the honor of training with Paul, I had him come to Lafayette and do a class for us and it was great, To show you what he was about, I had a few friends who could not afford to pay anything at a btough time in there lives, paul said no problem,tell them to come train, Its more than just the money. We had several people show up to train, It was great, he turns into a true Machine once he gears up and hits the range, Its like he flips a switch, going from Mr. quiet, cool and collective to a 8 ft tall instructor with something to say, everyone hushing up to listen. When we finished the class he came over to my house and ate a HUGE plate of Crawfish Etouffee and the bread pudding, The lil man could put it away.. Im proud to say that I had the opportunity to train with him. He was always the go to man for questions about equipment or function of a firearm…
I will surely miss him.
Mas, thank you for posting the information about Paul. Paul was a great guy and when I heard the sad news about him passing it brought back some great memories of the man.
My condolences go out to the entire Gomez family and friends. R.I.P. my friend.
Thanks for the great article about a great guy. He will be missed by a LOT of folks. The world is a lesser place without him but I’m sure he is training warriors in valhalla now. R.I.P. Paul
I was a direct family mener to him, and when i hear the news , i was devistated, but seeing that so many people loved him i know he had good long life and those 43 ueats were the best the world had, i feel better. Thank you