Manuel H. Piedra

PIEDRA, MANUEL H. "Manny", founder and former owner of "Manny's Formal Wear", the tuxedo store in Westchester died on Wednesday. He was 76. Piedra served in the Army under the Cuban Volunteer Training Program in 1962, training in Ft. Jackson, South Carolina and Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Piedra was an active member of the Big Five Club and a parishioner at St. Augustine Church in Coral Gables. Manny was best known as the owner of Manny's Formal Wear for more than 30 years. He always greeted his customers with an unforgettable smile and was ready to share a laugh or a story about sports, politics or Cuba, his three favorite topics. He was likely to continue the discussion over a "cafesito" at the nearest cafeteria. Piedra is survived by his wife of 55 years, Olga "Tati" Piedra, his sons, Manny, Jr. and Jorge, and his eight grandchildren: Jorge, Jr., Alexandra, Alec, Brian, Nicholas, Annie, Natalia, Lillie, and Charlie. "My father was a class act. A simple, humble man. Everyone he met loved him and he loved them back. He was an amazing husband and an incredible father. He led by example. We were lucky to have him" said his son Jorge. There will be a mass to celebrate his life on Saturday, January 19 at St. Augustine Church at 1400 Miller Road, Coral Gables. The family requested donations to the League Against Cancer in lieu of flowers.