Simsbury High School grieves death of popular security guard from COVID-19 complications

Simsbury High School is mourning the death of a well-known security guard from complications related to COVID-19.

Pedro "Peter'' Gonzalez was a popular figure at the high school among students who saw him on a regular basis over the past four years.

"He will be fondly remembered as the primary security guard during after-school activities — a time when he developed many warm relationships with both colleagues and students,'' schools superintendent Matt Curtis said in an email to the school community.

While Gonzalez was an employee of U.S. Allied Security, he worked continuously since 2016 at the high school.

There is no indication, Curtis said, that any students or faculty had become infected related to Gonzalez.

"Peter showed minor symptoms of COVID-19 in mid-September before testing positive,'' Curtis wrote. "Over the last few weeks, his fight continued at New Britain Hospital and then Hartford Hospital. Based on the initial contact tracing at the time of Peter’s diagnosis, there was no reason for additional concern about spread of the virus at SHS. No other members of the school community have had positive tests for the virus in the ensuing weeks.''

Curtis and others came to know Gonzalez as a comforting presence among the students.

"As superintendent, I was impressed by Peter’s constantly positive attitude and the personal greeting he had for everyone who crossed his path,'' Curtis said. "He was a great representative of our school community as someone who worked hard, took his job seriously, and cared about making connections.

Gonzalez is survived by his wife, Gladys, two adult children, and his granddaughter.

Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com.

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