Grace Galvez Gonzalez suddenly returned home on Wednesday, October 22, at the age of 43. She was the beloved wife of Jesse Toler, daughter of Tony & Irma Gonzalez, sister to Gaby and Danny, proud auntie to Cassandra, Carrina, Cynthia, Citlali Grace, and Amaris, and loving mother to Stormageddon Washborne and Nathan Drake. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Florentino Olivas and Paula Galvez; paternal grandparents, Antonio Gonzalez and Candelaria Ramos; her two dogs, Deucey and Styx. There is a hole in the world where she once stood.
Grace was gifted to us on July 9, 1982, in Salinas, California. She was an adorably pretentious, gifted punk rocker from the start. Her family knew her as their Snow White, their porcelain doll. She loved to dance and sing. Her values were kindness and compassion through servant leadership. Grace led only with her heart and felt everything the world had to offer. Her rosy cheeks fill the memories of those who knew her. She cried often-and beautifully-sharing tears for the injustice she saw in her day-to-day life.
In 2003, she joined KSBW on the suggestion of a college professor. Her career with Hearst Television grew from there. She transitioned from California to Florida and helped open the HTV Design Hub at WESH 2. She worked as an assignment editor, graphic designer, and most recently helped forge the project manager position. She was a founding co-chair of Comunidad, an employee resource group that amplified the voices of Hispanic and Latino colleagues at HTV, and served on the board for Hero Spark, a local nonprofit and after-school program. Wherever she went, she forged new roads for others to follow.
She graduated with honors from Rollins College in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies: Leadership and Organizational Communication. She was incredibly proud of her time there and of graduating from the same school as Mr. Rogers. While there, she interned with Houston Solutions and contributed to the finished text of The Project Manager’s Guide to Health Information Technology Implementation, 3rd edition.
Though proud of her accomplishments, her love belonged to her family and friends. Board games and tabletop roleplaying games such as Dungeons & Dragons were a big part of her life. She used her characters to express her aches and frustrations. Elle the righteous cleric, Lou the trickster thief, and Dhani the fireball of a gnome were only a few among many. She had great taste in music and a devoted appreciation for Green Day, often using both to expose those around her to perspectives they had never considered.
Grace lived beyond the bounds of her namesake. Her spirit will continue to guide us toward better paths. Her memory will soften our hearts. Her legacy will be fearless service in the face of adversity and an unwavering rejection of indifference to the suffering of others. May the sweetness of her smile and the light of her heart shine brightly-and forever.