Paul Dean Manocchio

Paul Dean Manocchio, a resident of Van Nuys, died July 2, 2025, in Panorama City. He was 66. Paul was born in Northridge on Saint Patrick's Day in 1959 to Sam and Sharon (Duncan) Manocchio, both of whom predeceased him. Paul was a remarkable person: despite needing to use crutches in his youth and then a wheelchair for his adult life, you would never say he was “confined” to a wheelchair – because he never let his situation confine him. He was a determined athlete: a champion arm wrestler who also drove go-carts, competed in wheelchair marathons, and doggedly lifted weights. Yet hand-in-hand with his competitive fire (you wouldn’t dare challenge him to a game of trivia, because you would surely lose), he was compassionate, caring, funny, and almost supernaturally friendly. He worked throughout his life as a court stenographer, special education teacher, and a customer service representative. Creative and witty, he was a talented writer, a passionate follower of (and commenter on!) national and international politics, and a fiercely devoted son, brother, uncle, and friend. He is survived by his brother Jon, sister-in-law Niurka; his nieces Gabriela Cortez and Julia Basmajian and their husbands Keaton Cortez and John Basmajian; and a legion of friends and admirers who will carry his infectious smile in their hearts forever.