Manuel Sousa Jr.

Manny was a native San Diegan who grew up in Point Loma as his home base and was a tuna fisherman by trade and long-suffering Padres fan who somehow managed to “keep the faith” despite the baseball club’s best efforts to extinguish it. He was fastidious with a lifelong habit of throwing out anything and everything he deemed unnecessary, which was devastating when he threw out his daughter’s favorite baby doll as a child for the crime of losing an arm but is greatly appreciated today as his family works to settle his estate. He loved Motown music and left his daughters with beautiful memories of him dancing in the kitchen with their mom to the Temptations or Four Tops or singing Light My Fire by the Doors to make her laugh. He was a man ahead of his time who changed diapers, played with his kids, participated in household chores, and encouraged his daughters to become strong and independent women.

Despite being thrown a curveball in the form of the cancer diagnosis, he was a source of great comfort to his family and friends right off the bat through his acceptance and assurances that he was “ready and had lived a good life.” He was a kind, loyal, and good man with great compassion for others who was extraordinarily devoted to his wife Janice (who died from Alzheimer’s), visiting her every single day without fail after he was unable to continue caring for her in the final stages of her disease. He was a Hall of Fame father, husband, and friend and is already greatly missed by everyone lucky enough to have known him.

Manny is preceded in death by “the love of his life,” Janice Marie Sousa, Padre’s outfielder, Tony Gwynn, and any hope that the Padres will ever win a World Series Championship.

Manny is survived by his oldest daughter Lisa Sousa-Coladonato, son-in-law Gino, and their three children, Anthony, Lauren, and Steven; his youngest daughter Lorie Sousa, her partner Gary Juhl, and her daughter Ryan; as well as his companion Lucille Cummings who was a great support and comfort to him in his final months.

Services will be held at St. Agnes Church (1140 Evergreen St. San Diego, CA 92106) 11am January 6th, 2024. In lieu of flowers, attendees are encouraged to share their thoughts and stories about Manny so they can be compiled into a scrapbook for the family. Attendees are encouraged to wear Padres’ gear to accessorize their traditional funeral attire in honor of Manny.