Raj Pratap Gohel

Raj Pratap Gohel, age 45, was born February 20, 1969 to Bhavna Gohel and the late Pratap Maganlal Gohel in Salem, New Jersey. The family moved 3 years later and Raj spent most of his idyllic childhood on the beach in Portland, TX with his parents and 3 younger sisters Neeta, Sonya, and Angeli. He attended East Cliff Elementary, Gregory Portland Junior High & Gregory Portland High School. He moved with his family to Clear Lake, Texas before his senior year and he graduated from Clear Lake High School in 1987. He attended the University of Houston and completed course work in Hospitality and Restaurant Management. He had several jobs all over the country including motel attendant, night manager, restaurant host, and cashier at convenient stores. Raj was a fun loving brother, son and friend. As a child, he was extremely athletic and playful, involved in competitive swimming, soccer, baseball, boy scouts, town sponsored events and all his many family activities. His lifetime favorite hobby, though, was bike riding. As a child, he could be seen riding at top speeds over the sand dunes on the Gulf of Mexico. As an adult, he biked until recent years as a primary mode of transportation. Raj was faced with many traumatic events, challenges and difficulties in his short adult life, but he never lost faith, hope or love. He thanked everyone, listened attentively, encouraged purposefully, smiled all the time, and spent his few resources to uplift and support his family and friends. He loved to send cards, give gifts, and laugh. He was patient, cheerful, joyful, deeply empathetic and had shared insightful humor to those that would listen. He spent his last few years in San Antonio where he enjoyed a loving and supportive community. Over the last several years, aspects of Raj's health began to deteriorate but he was always resilient from whatever medical treatment was required. In fact, he often assisted his beloved father, his best friend, Pratap who passed away in March. Sadly, Raj joined his father and passed suddenly and unexpectedly on the morning of September 24, 2014. He was loved abundantly and will be greatly missed and remembered by all. He is now at perfect peace with God. Raj was predeceased by his father, Pratap Gohel and is survived by his mother: Bhavna Gohel, sisters: Neeta, Sonya and Angeli, grandparents: Saraswati and Sudhakar Bhatt, brothers in law: Chris and Rob, and nephews and nieces: Jax, Andre, Komali and Nina.