Manuel. Alvarez

Manuel (“Manny”) Alvarez, beloved Husband, Father, Grandfather, Uncle, Mentor and cherished friend to many, died peacefully in his sleep in the early morning hours of January 9th 2014, surrounded by loving family members. Manny passed away from complications due to pancreatic cancer.

Manny was born the third of four children in El Paso, Texas on December 1st 1934 to Manuel and Carmen Alvarez. He graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1952. After serving in the U.S. Army and the Navy Reserves, Manny became a sheriff in 1958 for LA County for seven years, after which he served another nine years as a station detective in the East Los Angeles Office. In 1967 he became an investigator for the LA County Public Defenders office; in 1992, he retired as Chief of Investigations having accumulated 35 years and 7 months of loyal public service. Manny then pursued a career as a private investigator specializing in capital murder case investigations. The cases Manny worked took him all over the world, and in the capital murders investigations field, he was considered one of the best and most powerful investigators in the nation. Manny was a straight shooter, didn’t mince words and was always willing to give his sage advice. A consummate professional, he continued working until October 2013.

Manny was very active in his community and volunteered for many different organizations, including years devoted to Boy Scouts and Covina American Little League. He also supported many charities, including Casa de los Ninos, and was famous for his chili cook offs that drew crowds and raised money for the less fortunate inner city children of Los Angeles. He was an active member at Sacred Heart Church in West Covina and St Louis de Marillac Church in Covina.

Manny loved people, fishing, Baja, the High Sierras, cooking, music, traveling, dancing, fine food and was a voracious reader. Manny had a reputation of being kindhearted and was the quintessential "give the shirt off his back" kind of man. Devoted to his family, Manny provided unwavering support for each of his loved ones. Manny is survived by his loving and devoted wife Rachel; children Dave, Ralph, Robert, Leslie and Janine; sons-in-law Brett Korf and Kurt Allen; daughters-in-law Julie and Carole; granchildren Sumer , Alexandra, Gabrielle, Jenna, Branden, Holly, William, Mathew, and Nicholas.

Funeral Mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Vista, California on January 31st at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to The Sumer Nicole Alvarez Foundation, an organization established in honor of Manny’s oldest and beloved grandchild Sumer who passed away while teaching impoverished children in India; proceeds from donations will provide numerous high school scholarships for underpriveledged students. Mail donations to: The Sumer Nicole Alvarez Foundation P.O. Box 3263 Vista, Ca. 92085