Isaias Gonzalez, Age 84, of Valrico, Florida, formerly of Buffalo and North Tonawanda.  Mr. Gonzalez was a former affirmative action representative for the City of Buffalo and a founding father of Buffalo's Puerto Rican community, died Tuesday in a Brandon, Fla., hospital following a long illness. He was 84.
While in Buffalo and North Tonawanda from 1950 to 1990, Mr. Gonzalez started and hosted a Spanish-language radio show for 26 years, was instrumental in establishing Buffalo's bilingual education program, was chairman and co-founder of the community group Estudia, and was active in many other Hispanic organizations and endeavors.

His network of community contacts allowed him to help newly arrived Puerto Rican residents find housing, food, jobs, legal assistance or help dealing with government agencies.

A former dishwasher in Brooklyn, Mr. Gonzalez earned a degree from Empire State College at age 53 and personified both the difficulties and opportunities open to Buffalo's earliest Puerto Rican residents. "One of the things I'm always teaching to young people is that if I made it at age 53, you can do it today," he said in a 1985 interview in The Buffalo News.
Mr. Gonzalez was a machine operator at Bethlehem Steel and owned a grocery store at Seventh and Virginia Streets and a restaurant on Busti Avenue. He worked for the city from 1966 to 1983 as a field representative for the Division of Human Relations and an affirmative action officer for the Division of Urban Affairs.

Son of the late Justo Gonzales and Benita Soto. Brother of the late Anicasio, Ismael Gonzalez and Maria Salas.

Dear husband of Carmen Gonzalez of Valrico, FL. Loving father of Israel
(Patty) Gonzalez of Rochester, “Johnny” Gonzalez of Tonawanda, Louis (Beth) Gonzalez of Williamsville, Joseph (Providencia) Gonzalez of Rochester, Justo Gonzalez, of Tampa FL, Isaias Gonzalez, Jr. of Valrico, FL, Susana
(Ventura) Colon of Williamsville and Cindy (Jeff) Anderson of Rochester.
Stepfather of Donald Vega of Hiram, Georgia, Christopher Vega and Maria Vega of North Tonawanda. Dear Brother of Benito (Ada) Gonzalez of Moca, Puerto Rico. Also survived by 14 grand children and three great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Family and friends received on Sunday evening, 4-9 p.m. at the Brunner Funeral Home, 156 Robinson Street, North Tonawanda, (692-3841), where services will be held on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. at Ascension R.C. Church. The family asks that memorial be made to Ascension R.C. Church or Life Path Hospice, Inc., 3010 W. Azeele Street, Tampa, FL 33609 or the American Cancer Society.