Gonzalo "Joe" Diaz – a husband, father, brother, uncle, and friend – died on April 17th, 2026, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. He was 68.

    Joe was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia two weeks before his death. He passed surrounded by Diazes, who laughed and cried as they shared their favorite stories of the Bronx native-turned-Fairfield townsman with a larger-than-life personality.

    Joe was born Feb. 19, 1958, in Governors Island, New York. The boy from the East Bronx was raised by Marina (Lopez) and Gonzalo "Charlie" Diaz, who steered their six sons and a daughter to a three-bedroom apartment on Pelham Parkway. Joe's mother raised him to stay out of trouble and dream big, and Joe listened to her most of the time.

    He went on to serve in the Navy and got his sea legs in the sky as a search-and-rescue corpsman based on Whidbey Island, Washington. He joined missions, saved lives and even helped deliver babies. And it was there that he had his first son, Joseph.

    Joe moved back east and reenrolled in SUNY Stony Brook and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Soon after, he met Tracy Brockman in his 1986 math gen-ed. Joe remembered his future wife ignoring him in class, and she still recalls the "old guy" who wore a heavy corpsman's jacket around campus. The rest is history. They got married on May 6, 1990, and within the next decade would have two more kids, Christopher and Olivia.

    After wrapping up at Stony Brook, Joe got hired by Larry Diee in the sales department at Northern Telecom. He would go on to have an exciting career in telecommunications and technology sales. His natural charm and gift for conversation made him an exceptional salesman and leader. He led large teams, mentored others and formed lasting friendships. Joe retired in 2024 after some 40 years in the industry.

    Life for Joe came with twists and turns. He lived in California, New York, Florida, and, finally, Connecticut as he raised his three kids. For the past 25 years, he proudly called Fairfield home. Joe and Tracy never passed up on a chance to spend the day at Jennings Beach or Captain's Cove.

    At the time of his death, Joe was looking forward to the package of Yankee tickets he splurged on for the season, along with future New York Knicks and Giants games, if those Giants could just get their act together. Joe and Tracy blocked off days on the calendar to see Broadway musicals. And in downtime, his home was filled with the lovely chaos of two Dobermans, a cat and, sometimes, a grand-dog.

    Joe enjoyed both perfecting his front lawn and his golf game. (The latter needed some work.) He loved hosting summertime barbecues and annual Christmas parties, where he would enthusiastically force everyone to take a group photo. His legacy is one of love, strength, laughter and loyalty. He will be remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

    Joe is survived by his beloved wife, Tracy Brockman-Diaz; his sons, Joseph and Chris; and his daughter, Olivia; as well as his siblings and other fellow Diazes: Fred, Tino, Pura, Willie, Edwin and Johnny. Joe also had many nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved deeply.

    He was predeceased by his parents, Marina and Charlie.

    Calling hours will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 26, at Lesko Funeral Home, located at 1209 Post Road in Fairfield Center. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, April 27, at St. Pius X Parish. Services will continue to Oak Lawn Cemetery in Fairfield, where Joe will be laid to rest.

    In lieu of flowers, the Diaz family requests that charitable memorial donations be made to Memorial Sloan Kettering's blood cancer research fund, https://giving.mskcc.org/impact/cancer-types/blood-cancer