Emmanuel C. Santiago

He was 25 years young.

Emmanuel was the youngest of three children, born on April 14, 1998 in Colorado Springs, CO. Although he didn’t have any children of his own, he is survived by his immediate family: his parents, Julia and Roberto Santiago and his older siblings, Noella and Joshua Santiago.

As a young child, he quickly earned the nickname “Curious George” and was affectionately known as Manny and Manuel. He was known for his playful and talkative nature, as well as his adventurous spirit. Emmanuel loved making people laugh. During his childhood, he enjoyed watching shows like Thomas the Train and SpongeBob and had a deep interest in global history and culture. He admired different countries, their traditions, and their history. He took a special interest in their technological advancements, often creating his own inventions, such as model planes made from paper and exercising his creativity by taking apart toys and rebuilding them - proudly referring to them as his, “million dollar inventions”.

Manny was passionate about playing baseball and catch, and quickly became a dedicated fan of the New York Yankees. He cherished the natural beauty of colorful Colorado, going on many hikes and bike rides, as well as embarking on numerous out of state family trips.

As he grew older, Manny loved visiting New York, frequently taking the subway to Manhattan to experience the bustling city and exploring the shopping strips of Brooklyn on his own. His favorite sports teams included the Denver Broncos, Denver Nuggets and the New York Yankees. He was fortunate to attend several live basketball and baseball games.

Anime became one of his favorite show genres, with some of his all time favorites being Naruto, Fire Force, and Jujutsu Kaisen. Reading and journaling also became peaceful pastimes for him. After graduating from high school, Manny’s true talents began to shine. His first job being Target, followed by King Soopers, Best Buy, T-Mobile and lastly UPS. His exceptional communication skills allowed him to excel in customer service, building a large clientele and relationships that would last him years to come. As reflected on his numerous positive reviews of service and expressions of gratitude online.

His love for technology and creativity continued into adulthood. He enthusiastically discussed about the Google Pixels, Google products, his Canon camera and varied lenses. He enjoyed experimenting with various products and photography. Manny cherished spending time with friends and family, always capturing everlasting memories. He had a passion for music and dancing, cooking (making smoothies and chicken nuggets were his specialties) taking long walks, going to the gym, and constantly seeking opportunities for personal growth.

In his 25 years of life, Manny made enough connections to last him plenty of lifetimes. He was able to strike up deep and meaningful conversations with anyone. His smile and energy was contagious. He was a dreamer, a caring person, and a light in so many lives. The warmth he carried will never be forgotten, it will be remembered forever.