Juanito Mancilla Gonzales

June 24, 1931 – March 5, 2016

Juanito Mancilla Gonzales was born on June 24th, 1931 in Kawit, Cavite, Philippines, to Francisco and Gorgonia Gonzales. He was the eldest child of nine children and was named for the Catholic saint, San Juan the Baptist. He was a humble, quiet, gentle, intellectual person with a quick sense of humor. Juanito was a child during World War II and had many stories, both serious and funny, of his youthful exploits and his escapades during the Japanese occupation. He loved to create and build, yet he also had a love of adventure. In the Philippines he received his Masters Degree in Construction and Architecture, but his love of adventure and a yearning to see the world led him to join the U.S. Navy on August 11, 1953 at the age of 22.

Juanito joined the Navy at Sangley Point, in Cavite Philippines as a Mess Management Specialist. He was then sent to boot camp at Naval Training Center San Diego and was in Company 265. After boot camp, he traveled around the world on various ships and in 1958 he was stationed in Naples, Italy and worked for Four Star Admiral Briscoe. There he met and fell in love with Maria Carmelina Palomba. Even though they were from different countries, spoke different languages, and were so very different culturally, they were married a short time later on March 12. Their marriage lasted 58 strong and loving years. On July 4th, 1959, Juanito and Maria began the family adventure when they had twin daughters, Jayne and Jelen, who were his pride and joy.

In 1961, Juanito received his orders to go to Pensacola, Florida, so the adventure moved to the United States with Juanito, his Italian wife and two daughters. He worked in Florida for Four Star Admiral Newman. After that he transferred back to sea duty and was stationed in Japan for three years then in San Francisco while he served on supply ships in Vietnam. He became a Chief at the age of 32. While in San Francisco, he and Maria were blessed with the birth of their son, Juanito Jr. on November 11, 1968, who became his third pride and joy.

Juanito continued his education while in the Navy and earned other technical degrees. He managed the BOQ in Subic Bay, Philippines and also in Glynco Georgia. In 1976, he was able to get orders to Italy and was stationed in La Maddalena, Sardinia, so that Maria could have the opportunity to go back to her home country. In every place he was stationed, he loved to drive his family all over that country or state, learning the culture, language, and history of that area.

By the end of his La Maddalena duty station, Juanito felt it was time to start a different adventure - settle down in San Diego where he started his Naval career in boot camp and retire from the U.S. Navy after serving 23 years. Juanito then put his technical degrees to good use and worked for the Civil Service in Coronado at Naval Air Station North Island as an avionics electronics technician for another 20 years. While he worked for the Civil Service, he received Zero Sick Leave Awards each year.

Juanito was a very actively involved father and grandfather. He loved to have his family around him and was a loving and doting grandfather to his three grandchildren, Mitchael Jr,. Gianna, and Juanito III (Johnny). Juanito was a wonderful cook and could make a wondrous meal out of just about anything and teaching his three children how to cook and bake when they very young. He loved making doughnuts, cookies, and bread from scratch with his children, and later with his grandchildren. He loved math and solving puzzles and took delight in giving puzzles and math problems to his children and grandchildren to solve. Juanito was also a wonderful storyteller and often regaled his family with stories of his childhood and adventures.

Juanito was one of the strongest people in mind and body. Right after his retirement from the Civil Service, he battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma from Agent Orange exposure while serving in Vietnam. After beating that, he was diagnosed with an unrelated later stage stomach cancer, which by the grace of God he was able to fight off. Ten years later he was diagnosed with a third unrelated follicular lymphoma which he fought off. While battling the third cancer, he was found to have a fourth unrelated cancer, an unspecified lung cancer. This fourth cancer was different and did not respond to any attempts to slow or stop it. It took over quickly and Juanito passed away on March 5, 2016.

Juanito was a beloved and devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend. He was so very proud of his children's and grandchildren's accomplishments. He was faithful and generous to all that were close to him. He will be missed by his wife, Maria, his children, Jayne Evaristo, Jelen Rodecker, and Juanito Gonzales, Jr., his grandchildren, Mitchael Evaristo Jr., Gianna Gonzales, and Juanito "Johnny" Gonzales, III, and his sons-in-law Mitch Evaristo, Stephen Rodecker, and his daughter-in-law Marygail Gonzales.

To "the love of my life," "Dad," "Pappy:"

Our accomplishments and who we are, are a reflection of you.

You are always in our hearts.