Peter LoVerdi Relation to Deceased: Nephew/God son We always enjoyed Uncle Manny & Aunt Sandy at our family parties. Uncle Manny always brought a sense of excitement along with his stories. In his younger days, I remember that during my visits, he would be involved with some mechanical repair to his snowplow, boats or mowers. I enjoy looking at a photo of us, taken in the 40’s, riding together on his bulldozer plowing snow on Main St. Since moving to Florida, during my visits to Rochester, I would always be sure to visit with Uncle Manny. During my last visit in August, my brother & I spent time with him at St.Anns. His body was frail but his spirit was still strong. We love you Uncle Manny & you will be missed.
Joe Speranza I had the pleasure, and it was a pleasure, to visit Uncle Manny shortly after he moved into St Anns. As can be expected, he wasn’t happy about being there, and as can be expected, he made sure I knew that. I got the sense, though, that he understood his situation. His passing is the loss of another part of my childhood, and it brings back memories of the “old neighborhood” and our extended family. I will miss him, and I’ll always be happy about our final little chat. May he rest in peace, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Jo and George Meegan Relation to Deceased: Niece Sympathy and prayers to Mary and family. We have very loving memories of Uncle Manny and Aundy Sandy and will always remember them at family get togethers when we had lots of fun and good times (and good food).
Jennifer , Ken, Nico and Gianna Creola Relation to Deceased: Granddaughter and Great – Grandchildren I suppose I always just assumed you would be around forever…especially since you were always there for me. You lived your life YOUR way, no one would argue that, but you were always a different person with me, grandpa. There is nothing you wouldn’t do for me and I know that. I have so many special memories of your gentleness and love for me, even when others may have seen you as something different. I understood you, even when others didn’t and I would give anything to have been there with you as you left this world and went to see Grandma. That’s something that will take me a while to get past. But I know you understand and that doesn’t change my love for you I need you to know how important you were in my life and my childhood, and I promise, my children will ALWAYS know who you are. I know you asked me that quite a bit. You also used to ask me all the time “when are you coming home Jenny?” Well now YOU’RE home Grandpa. And we can be together whenever we want in our thoughts and our hearts. Give Grandma and hug and kiss for me. i love you so much….xoxo
Charles Roemer Relation to Deceased: married to his niece Manny was special. The sort of guy who was unique for his generation. He was a Renaissance man: he could fix anything and would do it with what ever material he had on hand. He was open and friendly yet wise in the ways of the worlld and quick to offer an opinion even when it might be unpopular. My best memory of Manny was the the wonderful dog he owned a few years ago. he trained the pooch to fetch his slippers—which in itself was a good trick—-but I was amazed when the dog would select which kind of shoes to bring him! He had patience to fix things, be there for his family, and work at being a good man. I will miss him and the generation that made him.
Charlene (Barone) Washington Relation to Deceased: niece One of my earliest memories of Uncle Manuel was as young girl, when he took me for a ride on a motorcycle he had brought over, and I loved it! Uncle Manny was the fun uncle-the reason for so many wonderful family get-togethers. Many Sundays were spent at the cottage. The day would go on w/ my Dad giving all those haircuts. Aunt Sandy always opened her heart,& her kitchen to the Moms, & they would make those huge pots of spaghetti & sauce, her wonderful pictures of Robert Stack keeping watch over everything. And all us kids would be playing badminton, volleyball, horseshoes, croquet, walking(esp. to the old merry-go-round), picking berries(when Aunt Sandy gave us buckets, and sent us),swimming, & just hanging around. And when Uncle Manny brought out his ATV, we all took turns riding it–and, of course, the boat-how he loved boating!..and waterskiing. I eventually spent years waterskiing as an adult-a love of a sport that started at the cottage & because of Uncle Manuel. Eventually I moved from Roch. w/ my husband, Jim, and had a son, Arren. But every visit back to Roch. would only be complete w/ a visit to Uncle Manuel. He loved taking Arren on that houseboat!!. When my family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, I was thrilled that Uncle Manny would spend days at my house, by my pool-just relaxing & playing w/ Arren & his friends. I remember when he learned that Arren had the lead role in a school play, he drove from Zephyr Hills to Ft. Ldle, so he could video tape that play. When Jim was able to get to Roch., he & Uncle Manuel would always get together. Jim is another person w/ Uncle Manuel’s penchant & capability of understanding how things work & how to fix anything, & they would spend hours in that garage–puttering. Most of all, I remember Uncle Manuel always being there when family needed him- whether it was for snow-plowing, new tires, a decent car, use of his motorhome. The things he needed for himself were few, and when he asked for something, we were pleased to give to him, even though we might not have agreed w/ him, or saw things his way. Simply put, he was our Uncle Manuel, and I loved him, and I will always miss him.
Carol & Tony Morgani We will always have fond memories of visiting Rochester and sharing time and meals with Manny, Sandy, Sam, Mary and Jen. I know he will be missed by all. God bless and keep you. With Love, Carol & Tony As we look back over time We find ourselves wondering ….. Did we remember to thank you enough For all you have done for us? For all the times you were by our sides To help and support us ….. To celebrate our successes To understand our problems And accept our defeats? Or for teaching us by your example, The value of hard work, good judgement, Courage and integrity? We wonder if we ever thanked you For the sacrifices you made. To let us have the very best? And for the simple things Like laughter, smiles and times we shared? If we have forgotten to show our Gratitude enough for all the things you did, We’re thanking you now. And we are hoping you knew all along, How much you meant to us.
Andrea C Syracusa-Houle Relation to Deceased: Niece So saddened to learn about Uncle Manuel. God bless his long active life….I will remember the great big smile and hug that he and Aunt Sandy always had for me, our families’ journey to Key West and of course all the appliances!! His passing marks the loss of yet another part of my childhood and brings back many memories of gatherings with the extended family. Rest in peace Uncle Manuel,,,give them all a hug for me. The butterfly emerges from its silken shell- Reborn, it arises, no longer bound to earth. Free at last, the butterfly glides to heights unknown before. So do our loved ones find a beautiful release as, earthbound no more, they leave our sight and joyfully rise to a garden of matchless beauty, a place of light and peace. -Evelyn Phillips
Additional Tribute Link: http://youtu.be/lhFYue9fAaA
Peter LoVerdi Relation to Deceased: Nephew/God son We always enjoyed Uncle Manny & Aunt Sandy at our family parties. Uncle Manny always brought a sense of excitement along with his stories. In his younger days, I remember that during my visits, he would be involved with some mechanical repair to his snowplow, boats or mowers. I enjoy looking at a photo of us, taken in the 40’s, riding together on his bulldozer plowing snow on Main St. Since moving to Florida, during my visits to Rochester, I would always be sure to visit with Uncle Manny. During my last visit in August, my brother & I spent time with him at St.Anns. His body was frail but his spirit was still strong. We love you Uncle Manny & you will be missed.
Joe Speranza I had the pleasure, and it was a pleasure, to visit Uncle Manny shortly after he moved into St Anns. As can be expected, he wasn’t happy about being there, and as can be expected, he made sure I knew that. I got the sense, though, that he understood his situation. His passing is the loss of another part of my childhood, and it brings back memories of the “old neighborhood” and our extended family. I will miss him, and I’ll always be happy about our final little chat. May he rest in peace, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Jo and George Meegan Relation to Deceased: Niece Sympathy and prayers to Mary and family. We have very loving memories of Uncle Manny and Aundy Sandy and will always remember them at family get togethers when we had lots of fun and good times (and good food).
Jennifer , Ken, Nico and Gianna Creola Relation to Deceased: Granddaughter and Great – Grandchildren I suppose I always just assumed you would be around forever…especially since you were always there for me. You lived your life YOUR way, no one would argue that, but you were always a different person with me, grandpa. There is nothing you wouldn’t do for me and I know that. I have so many special memories of your gentleness and love for me, even when others may have seen you as something different. I understood you, even when others didn’t and I would give anything to have been there with you as you left this world and went to see Grandma. That’s something that will take me a while to get past. But I know you understand and that doesn’t change my love for you I need you to know how important you were in my life and my childhood, and I promise, my children will ALWAYS know who you are. I know you asked me that quite a bit. You also used to ask me all the time “when are you coming home Jenny?” Well now YOU’RE home Grandpa. And we can be together whenever we want in our thoughts and our hearts. Give Grandma and hug and kiss for me. i love you so much….xoxo
Charles Roemer Relation to Deceased: married to his niece Manny was special. The sort of guy who was unique for his generation. He was a Renaissance man: he could fix anything and would do it with what ever material he had on hand. He was open and friendly yet wise in the ways of the worlld and quick to offer an opinion even when it might be unpopular. My best memory of Manny was the the wonderful dog he owned a few years ago. he trained the pooch to fetch his slippers—which in itself was a good trick—-but I was amazed when the dog would select which kind of shoes to bring him! He had patience to fix things, be there for his family, and work at being a good man. I will miss him and the generation that made him.
Charlene (Barone) Washington Relation to Deceased: niece One of my earliest memories of Uncle Manuel was as young girl, when he took me for a ride on a motorcycle he had brought over, and I loved it! Uncle Manny was the fun uncle-the reason for so many wonderful family get-togethers. Many Sundays were spent at the cottage. The day would go on w/ my Dad giving all those haircuts. Aunt Sandy always opened her heart,& her kitchen to the Moms, & they would make those huge pots of spaghetti & sauce, her wonderful pictures of Robert Stack keeping watch over everything. And all us kids would be playing badminton, volleyball, horseshoes, croquet, walking(esp. to the old merry-go-round), picking berries(when Aunt Sandy gave us buckets, and sent us),swimming, & just hanging around. And when Uncle Manny brought out his ATV, we all took turns riding it–and, of course, the boat-how he loved boating!..and waterskiing. I eventually spent years waterskiing as an adult-a love of a sport that started at the cottage & because of Uncle Manuel. Eventually I moved from Roch. w/ my husband, Jim, and had a son, Arren. But every visit back to Roch. would only be complete w/ a visit to Uncle Manuel. He loved taking Arren on that houseboat!!. When my family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, I was thrilled that Uncle Manny would spend days at my house, by my pool-just relaxing & playing w/ Arren & his friends. I remember when he learned that Arren had the lead role in a school play, he drove from Zephyr Hills to Ft. Ldle, so he could video tape that play. When Jim was able to get to Roch., he & Uncle Manuel would always get together. Jim is another person w/ Uncle Manuel’s penchant & capability of understanding how things work & how to fix anything, & they would spend hours in that garage–puttering. Most of all, I remember Uncle Manuel always being there when family needed him- whether it was for snow-plowing, new tires, a decent car, use of his motorhome. The things he needed for himself were few, and when he asked for something, we were pleased to give to him, even though we might not have agreed w/ him, or saw things his way. Simply put, he was our Uncle Manuel, and I loved him, and I will always miss him.
Carol & Tony Morgani We will always have fond memories of visiting Rochester and sharing time and meals with Manny, Sandy, Sam, Mary and Jen. I know he will be missed by all. God bless and keep you. With Love, Carol & Tony As we look back over time We find ourselves wondering ….. Did we remember to thank you enough For all you have done for us? For all the times you were by our sides To help and support us ….. To celebrate our successes To understand our problems And accept our defeats? Or for teaching us by your example, The value of hard work, good judgement, Courage and integrity? We wonder if we ever thanked you For the sacrifices you made. To let us have the very best? And for the simple things Like laughter, smiles and times we shared? If we have forgotten to show our Gratitude enough for all the things you did, We’re thanking you now. And we are hoping you knew all along, How much you meant to us.
Andrea C Syracusa-Houle Relation to Deceased: Niece So saddened to learn about Uncle Manuel. God bless his long active life….I will remember the great big smile and hug that he and Aunt Sandy always had for me, our families’ journey to Key West and of course all the appliances!! His passing marks the loss of yet another part of my childhood and brings back many memories of gatherings with the extended family. Rest in peace Uncle Manuel,,,give them all a hug for me. The butterfly emerges from its silken shell- Reborn, it arises, no longer bound to earth. Free at last, the butterfly glides to heights unknown before. So do our loved ones find a beautiful release as, earthbound no more, they leave our sight and joyfully rise to a garden of matchless beauty, a place of light and peace. -Evelyn Phillips