Gilbert "Gil" James Manzo

Gil was the youngest of 6 children and he grew up in the coastal community of Redondo Beach, CA with his parents, Frieda and George and his brother, George, and sisters Rose, Esther, Freida, and Genevieve.

Gil graduated from Redondo Union High School in 1953 and attended some business college classes at El Camino College which sparked his interest in business management and entrepreneurship. In his youth, Gil's first job was a newspaper delivery boy, then he worked in the poultry business, and eventually in the banking industry and learned much about business operations and business management.

The summer following high school graduation, Gil met his wife Jacquie and they began dating and were married in June 1957.

About a year after they were married, Gil and Jacquie bought their first home in La Habra, CA. Then in 1960 Gil began his service in the United States Army and was stationed in Kenai, Alaska. Jacquie joined him and they lived there while he completed his service, enjoying all the grandeur and adventure of the beautiful and rugged state of Alaska and traveling when they had leave.

Gil was a loving and devoted husband and father; he and Jacquie had 3 children, Tracy, Todd and Tori. Gil was blessed with 8 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren. Time with his family was deeply important to Gil and he enjoyed spending time with the family.

Gil was a successful entrepreneur, international import/export broker, business owner and investor and was often sought out by friends and family as an advisor and counselor for business and financial matters. He valued his ability to provide for those he loved and cared for and helped them learn to successfully provide for themselves.

Gil was a devoted member of the Catholic Church. He expressed his care for his community through support and service to the Catholic Church throughout his life. For several years he served as a church lector and later on was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Gil was a model of healthy living as an avid outdoorsman. Throughout his life, he enjoyed his horses and horseback riding with his wife and family including the family's participation for many years in the family-oriented Ridge Riders riding club. He also enjoyed bicycling, hiking, walking, camping, traveling, and his dogs. It was also well known to his friends and family that Dad was a foodie, had a sweet tooth that often had him inquiring what was for dessert as a first priority.

In the last several years of his life, Gil became disabled due to a rare disease, Amyloidosis. The disease slowly deprived Gil of his ability to walk and drive and he eventually became wheelchair bound. Even through all of the challenges of this disease, Gil was a model of grace and acceptance, with a sense of dignity and humility... and a sense of humor. To the day he died, Gil had no mental decline - he was mentally sharp and had an extraordinary memory. He always asked about the well being of those he met, remembering everyone's name and details about their families. His mindful awareness. compassion for others, love and selfless concern for others continues to be a guide for our own lives.

He will always be loved and missed and will be forever in our hearts.

Gil is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, two of his sisters, Frieda and Genevieve, and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Services for Gil will be held as follows:

• Funeral Mass on Wednesday, December 22, 2021, 11:00 AM. St. Kateri Tekakwitha Catholic Church. 1234 Palm Ave, Beaumont, CA 92223.

• Graveside Service on Thursday, December 23, 2021, 9:30AM, Montecito Memorial Park and Mortuary, Colton, CA.

•Donations in lieu of flowers can be sent in honor of Gil Manzo to one of the following charities:

• St. Labre Indian School... https://give.stlabre.org/page/87881/donate/1?CPID=21GWEB&SRC=21GWEBGWEB

• Los Angeles Mission... https://give.losangelesmission.org/production?cl=LAM&pg=main&amt=35,50,75,100&ref=homepage-top-right&version=full&source=DIGI-HOME

• Catholic Church Pantry.... https://osvhub.com/stkateritekakwitha/funds

• St. Judes Children's Hospital....https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?sc_icid=header-btn-donate-now

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.montecitomemorialparkandmortuary.com for the Manzo family.