Manuel Perez

1929 - 2025

Manuel Perez

December 24, 1929 - March 24, 2025

Fresno, California - Manuel Perez, devoted husband and father, social engineer, visionary, community activist, mentor, and education trailblazer died at the age of 95 on Monday, March 24, 2025 in his home surrounded by his family.

As the late Dr. Andrew Alvarado eloquently stated, "There are many who have given unselfishly for the betterment of their community but only a few have made a difference in the lives of so many as has Manuel Perez. Always advocating for those less privileged, his persistent efforts 'opened doors' for countless number of young people whose dreams of attending institutions of higher learning would otherwise have been unfulfilled. His vision, integrity, leadership, and intuitive sense of when and how to act served as the catalyst for those who played lesser but important roles in creating opportunities so that others could walk through college doors. His unpretentious character was misleading for those who did not know him, as his leadership was more likely to be found behind the scenes than at the podium. His presence nonetheless was always felt. Manuel's venerable role in the community and commitment to family was well recognized. As those close to him know, his tolerance for arroganceand ignorance was zero. Such is the character of a man whose difference has made a difference; he enriched the lives of all who have known him, as well as the lives of so many more who have not."

As former Fresno State employee Olivia Chavez notes, "For so many of us in the day, he was our leader, a person I could trust and look up to he guided, planned, strategized, and led us to making changes that resulted in a more welcoming place for students to come, learn, and most of all graduate. I felt he also looked after the workers and he would listen, like no other administrator could or would. I feel less secure in this world, knowing this good man, our 'elder,' is no longer in it."

Manuel was born on December 24, 1929, in Fresno California. His mother was the driving force in his pursuit of higher education. He attended Roosevelt High School and graduated in 1947. He was a fierce and indomitable basketball and baseball player. Manuel was also known as the "smooth southpaw" despite being right-handed. He continued to excel in basketball at Fresno State and Fresno Junior College until he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War in 1951. While in the Army, he led the 29th Infantry Hoopsters in the Army Basketball League where he traveled playing exhibition games to boost morale for the troops. He would continue his lifelong love for basketball for the next twenty-five years as a referee for Fresno high schools and college games.

In April 1953, he returned to Fresno and married his wife of 66 years, Theresa Perez. This marked the beginning of their lifelong partnership to bring about social change. He often said, "Theresa and I make a heck of a team we've always shared the same types of values about people and our community and felt it was part of life to give as much as we could to make things better for others."

In 1953, he also returned to Fresno State as one of only five Latino students. In 1955, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and was offered a position as a probation officer by the Fresno County Probation Department. He was the second Latino to be hired. He saw his profession as a way to help equalize the justice system. He was an early supporter of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers (UFW). Chavez relied on the students to help him and Manuel was instrumental in mobilizing the students. "We could identify with the plight of the farmworker."

In 1971, after completing a Master of Social Work, Manuel became the Director of the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at Fresno State. Under his leadership, EOP increased higher education accessibility for all underrepresented students.

In 1980, Manuel was promoted to the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs and again in 1984 he was promoted to the Associate Dean of the new Division of Student Affairs. Here he helped develop and nurture many programs such as Upward Bound and Talent Search; University Migrant Service; the College Assistance for Migrants Program (CAMP); SURGE; EOP Learning Center; the Re-entry Program; and the Chicano Youth Conference. As a visionary, he hired many professionals who helped create pathways for more students.

Manuel's impact extended beyond the campus of Fresno State. In the 1960's he was appointed to the Model City Board of Directors where he learned how communities plan and develop programs for its' citizens. During this time, he became involved in the Presidential campaign of Robert F. Kennedy where he learned how to register voters and get out the vote on election day. This became the impetus to support the local campaigns of George Acuna, Armando Rodriguez, Lionel Alvarado, Al Villa, and his wife Dr. Theresa Perez, as well as countless others. He campaigned at the national level for Presidential candidates Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale. At the local level, he served two terms as the President of the Fresno Chapter of the Mexican Political Association (MAPA), and at the state level he served two terms as statewide President of Raza Advocates for Californians in Higher education (RACHE).

In 1982, Manuel was the only Hispanic appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to the State Social Service Board. Later, he was appointed to the Fresno City Civil Service Commission. In this position, he reviewed discrimination cases and advocated for minority hiring and promoting in the Fresno Fire and Police Departments. He was also appointed to the Fresno County Civil Service Commission and the Fresno Grand Jury.

Manuel worked as an Advisory Board member of the College Assistance Program; a member of the Chicano Staff Organization; Chicano Faculty Association at CSUF; the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators; Hispanic Caucus of the American Association for Higher Education; an Advisory Board member of the Fresno Metropolitan Ministry; and a Board member of the Fresno National Hispanic Scholarship Fund; Founding Board member of Arte Americas; founding member of the Guadalupano Society of St. Terese; and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

In 1994 when he retired from Fresno State there was no other University in the country with as many federal students service programs. At his retirement, he said, "I am proud to have taken part in the history of Fresno State at a point in time when the doors of educational opportunity opened up for so many deserving students who otherwise would never had participated in a university experience."

In 1998, Manuel and Theresa moved to Charlotte, North Carolina so that Theresa could pursue teaching multicultural education at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. In 2012, Manuel and Theresa returned home to Fresno.

Manuel was the recipient of countless awards for education and service including the following:

"The Thousand Points of life Award" from the President of the United States for the UMS/CAMP Program; the Tomas Rivera Service award in Public Education; TV 24 KSEE Special Person Award; Hechos y Unidad Award; 1975 recipient of The Award for Outstanding Educator, in 1990 Manuel and Theresa were named Chicano Alumni of the Year; in 2017 the Fresno State Bold Visionary Award was presented to him at the University's Chicano/Latino Commencement Celebration (CLCC); 2018 Educator of the Year Award by the Mexican American Educators (AMAE); and in 2023 he was honored at the 50th Chicano Youth Conference Anniversary Legacy Award for establishing the CYC in 1973.

Manuel Perez's oral history has been transcribed and is available at the Fresno State Library and the Bancroft Library at University of California, Berkley.

To honor the memory of Manuel Perez, Fresno State President Saúl Jiménez-Sandoval has ordered a University flag tribute for Thursday, April 3, with the Campus' U.S. and California flags posted at half-staff from sunrise to sunset.

Also, during the University's annual César E. Chávez Commemoration March 27, a moment of silence tribute acknowledged Pérez' contributions to the University and his support for the farmworker leader who often rallied Fresno State students to support campesino causes. The Chávez event was co-sponsored by a program Manuel helped create, the College Assistance for Migrants Program (CAMP).

He is survived by his children: Dr. Sandra Perez, Andrea Perez-Lemus, Tim Perez, Sallie Perez Saiz, Raquel Perez Katsouridis, and Tino Perez; his grandchildren Jaszper Ford, Mica Ford, Diego Ford, Carlos McCraw, Fabio McCraw, Antonio Quevedo, Moses Lemus, Pablo Perez, Alysia Saiz, Adriana Saiz, Isabel Saiz, Giancarlo Laguna, Alejandro Laguna, Benicio Perez and Vida Perez; 12 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; sister Linda Reyes and brother Michael Perez; and Predeceased in death by his wife Dr. Theresa Perez, his daughter Rebecca Ford, his great-grandson Joseph Quevedo, his sister Esther Nunez and his parents Florentino and Andrea Perez.

Visitation will be held at Lisle Funeral home on April 2, 2025 from 3 to 7 pm, followed by a Holy Rosary Vigil at 7 pm. A mass of Christian burial will be held on April 3, 2025 at 10 am at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church followed by interment at St. Peter's Catholic