Spry Sandy Gomes marks his 80th with birthday bash

By Ben Wood

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Dec 23, 2011

~~<p>SANDY GOMES, one of State Farm's finest, celebrated his 80th birthday Dec. 14 with about 100 family members and friends at Oahu Country Club. Sandy was a live wire at the party, greeting guests, moving from table to table to chat and cutting a rug on the dance floor. After giving several women a whirl, he asked if anyone else wanted to dance. As one of his old pals going back to elementary school, I got up, grabbed him and then we clumsily tried to dance together, bringing laughter. Sandy and his wife, Gwen, will mark their 60th wedding anniversary next year on June 11. Five of their six children were at the party: Lee, Scott, Jon, attorney and former legislator Joe Gomes and Gwenette Higa. The sixth sibling, Sandra Gomes, is living in Sacramento, Calif., and could not make the event. Joe came from his Virginia home for the</p>
<p>celebration and Lee flew in from San Francisco. Lee was a Star-Bulletin reporter who went on to report for mainland outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine. He is now a freelance writer. Fine food and beverages were offered by the country club staff. The swinging musical trio was made up of pianist Dan Del Negro, bassist Ernie Provencher and drummer Andy Watson. They played at my 80th birthday party Oct. 26 at Neiman's Mariposa. Sandy and Gwen attended and liked the trio so much he hired them on the spot. ...</p>
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SANDY GOMES, one of State Farm's finest, celebrated his 80th birthday Dec. 14 with about 100 family members and friends at Oahu Country Club. Sandy was a live wire at the party, greeting guests, moving from table to table to chat and cutting a rug on the dance floor. After giving several women a whirl, he asked if anyone else wanted to dance. As one of his old pals going back to elementary school, I got up, grabbed him and then we clumsily tried to dance together, bringing laughter. Sandy and his wife, Gwen, will mark their 60th wedding anniversary next year on June 11. Five of their six children were at the party: Lee, Scott, Jon, attorney and former legislator Joe Gomes and Gwenette Higa. The sixth sibling, Sandra Gomes, is living in Sacramento, Calif., and could not make the event. Joe came from his Virginia home for the

celebration and Lee flew in from San Francisco. Lee was a Star-Bulletin reporter who went on to report for mainland outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and Forbes magazine. He is now a freelance writer. Fine food and beverages were offered by the country club staff. The swinging musical trio was made up of pianist Dan Del Negro, bassist Ernie Provencher and drummer Andy Watson. They played at my 80th birthday party Oct. 26 at Neiman's Mariposa. Sandy and Gwen attended and liked the trio so much he hired them on the spot. ... Login for more...