Octavio R. Manduley

Octavio R. Manduley, age 78 passed away peacefully Wednesday, July 18, 2012 after a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Octavio, lovingly referred to as Papi, was born in Havana Cuba, April 8, 1934 to Maria Manduley Escudero of Barcelona, Spain and Romilio O. Manduley of Havana, Cuba. He majored in Industrial Chemistry at the Technical Institute of Havana University. In 1954 he married Beatriz (Betty) Almaguer and together they raised three children. Octavio and Betty were married 58 years.

In 1959, over a bottle of cognac, Octavio discussed Cuban land reform with Fidel Castro. He sympathized with Castro’s cause but soon became disenchanted when Castro’s revolution took a Marxist leaning. In 1960, with $5.00 in his pocket, he moved his family to the United States. They lived in Miami for three years. While there he was part of anti-Castro counter revolutionary groups and helped in the planning of the Bay of Pigs invasion. He served in the US Army during this period. In 1963, New Garden Friends Church sponsored the Manduley family’s move to Greensboro where they made a home and became active community members including serving as President of the Lion’s Club and Chair of the Republican Party. Octavio worked for P. Lorillard as a chemist and Operations Manager for 30 years. One of his proudest moments was when he became a United States citizen on December 6, 1968.

Octavio will forever be remembered for his brilliance as a poet, historian, and raconteur. He loved music, dancing, and good scotch. Time at the beach, world travel, his flat in Barcelona and his cousins there were great pleasures for him. He was funny, articulate, and loved his family beyond words. He touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and maintained his trademark sense of humor all the way to the end. He was a true Renaissance man.

Octavio is survived by his wife Betty, children Bea (Marvin Veto), Octavio E. Manduley, and Betty Mary (Mike Deason) along with grandchildren Nikki (Eric Scheidecker), Lucas Jones (Amy), Tristan and Morgan Manduley and six great- grandchildren, Maria, Carrie, Ana, Andrew, Daniel, and Amanda.

Friends and family are invited to attend the funeral service on Tuesday, July 24. Visitation will take place at 10am and the service will start at 11am at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home, 6000 High Point Road, Greensboro, NC. 27407. Light refreshments will be served.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to Alzheimer’s Association of Greensboro, 4615 Dundas Drive, Greensboro, NC 27407 or to the SPCA, 3163 Hines Chapel Road, Greensboro 27405.