Manuel was born on a dairy farm in Lemoore Ca to Mary (Cabral) and George Cardoza. He was the oldest of eight children. In 1937 he started school only speaking Portuguese. The teacher sent him home telling his parents he could not come back until he could speak English. His mother taught him how to say, “good morning teacher” and sent him back to school. Whether by fate, birth order, or family influence he learned to persevere at an early age. Living in Lemoore as a child he was very close to his extended family and his mother’s brothers, Frank, Carl and Albert. In 1945, he came with his father to Monterey to work on the fishing boats along the coast and fell in love with the coastline. In place of attending high school he joined his father full time working on boats along the California Coast mostly from San Francisco Bay Area to Ventura County. At 18, he decided to move to San Francisco and work construction. It was there he met his first wife (Mary) and had two children, Virginia and Jimmy. In 1955, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and completed his basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He served two years active duty in Frankfurt Germany and 2 years active reserves.
In 1957 he returned to his beloved Monterey Peninsula. A family friend, Mr. Cota, told him about a temporary job where he was working and encouraged him to apply. This temporary job turned into a passionate 35-year career at Cypress Point Golf Club. He was mentored by Tony Layton and upon Tony’s retirement he was promoted to Superintendent. He loved being outdoors and the serene beauty of the course especially in the early morning hours. His work ethic, persistence in solving just about any dilemma and his mechanical intelligence made him the perfect fit for the job. He was innovative in the golf industry and was called upon for many years (long after his retirement) by colleagues when they were experiences problems, especially with their greens! To the dismay of industry salespeople, he rarely purchased new equipment as he would keep the equipment in perfect condition and often improve upon the original design with his own ingenuity.
In 1960 on a beautiful April day, he married Phyllis Hamblen at the Church of the Wayfair in Carmel. They soon welcomed three children (Joey, Lisa & Billy,) and purchased their first home on Hilby Ave. in Seaside CA. In 1969, while driving home from work he saw a for sale sign on a run-down home in Pacific Grove. He would spend the next 60 years plus alongside Phyllis remodeling, repairing and maintaining their beautiful home. He loved to garden and received many compliments on the intricacies of his yard. But most of all he loved his garage. Everyone knew that was where he could be found, working on cars or making something for the house, fixing appliances or just about anything that needed repair he was in his garage. Everyone who knew him would drive down the alley to see if the garage door was open, indicating he was home. He loved to visit with family and friends in the garage and he always had an extra stool and welcomed anyone to sit with him.
He knew all his neighbors and became very close with them especially after his retirement, driving them to appointments and talking for hours in his garage. He had many friends that he would reminisce of fondly. Tony Paro, Anthony Linares, Joe Babe, Manuel Rego, Billy Graham, Donnie Snyder, Earnie McKelly, John Winskowicz, Bill Robertson, John Pires, Bob Jasper, his “coffee buddies” Richard Radley, Tommy Bruno, Maurie Fischer, John Favazzo and Charlie Marvin and all of his neighbors on Gibson and Sinex Ave, especially Nan and Mark who showed him great love and compassion & delicious homemade treats, and Matt Brady a longtime friend in the neighborhood who came and offered to maintain the yard after Billy passed and showed up whenever he called. If we have left you out, it is our oversight and not his…he did not forget you!
He took his love of mechanics and persistence at making everything better (actually faster) and after receiving an RC boat as a gift from his wife and children began an extensive hobby racing RC boats. He traveled and met lifelong friends while “running his boats.” Everyone knew his truck and would stop by Roberts Lake in Seaside to see his latest creation and what he was testing, or racing. He would come home very sad if one of his boats sank and practically dredged the lake to find it! One of his saddest days was when he sank a boat in the Elkhorn Slough. His persistence usually paid off but not in the slough. To this day he still maintains numerous RC boat speed records.
After retirement a friend gave him a 1949 Ford pickup that needed more than a little work. He was in his glory restoring not just one but 2 pickups. He loved driving them around the beach with Phyllis and attending many car shows. He reconnected with many friends he grew up with and met new friends once he started restoring his Ford Pickups. He always appreciated automobiles (pretty much anything with a motor or engine), all makes & models, and was a master craftsman and mechanic. In addition to the Ford Pickups, he restored a 1952 MG Midget Roadster and a 1962 Chris Craft runabout.
He loved the outdoors especially camping and fishing. In his younger days he would camp and fish with his good friend Tony Paro along the Big Sur Coast and spent many hours fishing Bass Lake. He enjoyed the many camping trips with family and friends (the Paro’s and the Montiel’s)and the large camping groups later with his children, their families, extended families, and friends at Bass Lake CA. He and Phyllis loved to travel in their RV after retirement and fondly spoke of the places they visited and people they met.
In his final years he decided he would try making “moonshine” which led him to making his own still. He loved to have family & friends sample his final product. At 91, he liked to use the internet to check recipes, including exact measurements and weights and was always trying to perfect his recipe.
He most loved spending time with friends and family. He loved all his family, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and all of Phyllis’ extended family as well (and they were a large family too!) He loved having the grandkids visit and watch them play either in the back yard or the alley and loved spending time with the great-grandchildren and their unconditional love.
He was predeceased by his parents, George & Mary, in-laws, Dallas & Bessie Hamblen, sisters, Louise & Laverne, brothers, Tony, Mickey & Carl and his daughter, Virginia and son, Billy.
He is survived by his wife, partner and soulmate Phyllis (they celebrated their 64th anniversary in April), children Jimmy of Magalia CA, Joey (Francine Mascoro) of Prunedale CA, and Lisa (Norman)Naylor of Monterey CA. Grandchildren, Sophia Wilson, Jozetta Qualls of Hollister CA, David (Jamie) Cardoza of Oroville CA, Branden (Nikki) Cardoza of Chico CA, Kayla Naylor of Little Rock AR, Maddy (Ryan) Beck of Salinas CA, Paige (Poppy) Baltazar of Carmel Valley CA and Allison (Cooper) Naylor of Pacifica CA & many great-grandchildren. Brothers, John Cardoza of Las Cruces NM and Benny Cabral of Lemoore CA, sister-in-law Ginger Cardoza of Gilbert AZ, brother-in-law Bob (Diana) Hamblen of Salinas CA, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. A special thank you to Faith Crawford his niece who traveled halfway around the world to provide care for him during his last months.
His wish was to die at his home in Pacific Grove and with the assistance of Community Hospital Hospice of the Central Coast and family he passed peacefully from this life to the next.
A memorial service in honor of Manuel will be held on Friday July 12th, 2024 at 1:00 pm at Wellspring Church, 141 14th Street, Pacific Grove, CA 93950. A Luncheon to Celebrate Manuel will be immediately following the service.
Donations made be made to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Hospice of the Central Coast or the donors choice.
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we deeply love becomes a part of us.” Helen Keller
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