Manuel Ventura Reynaud

Manuel Ventura Reynaud--Beloved, Dad, Papa, Tio, Hermano, Primo, Friend-- passed peacefully to his eternal life at his son's home in South San Francisco on September 7, 2024.
He was born in Tela, Honduras, son of Manuel Ventura and Vita Celia Reynaud. Upon immigrating to the United States in 1956, he attended UC Berkeley and California State College at Hayward from where he obtained a degree in Spanish.
In the fall of 1969, he began his 55-year career in education. Manuel taught Spanish for several years at Cal State Hayward and 6th grade in Brentwood; in the evenings he taught Spanish at Albany Adult School and English to migrant workers in Oakley and Brentwood while working on his master's degree at San Francisco State. In 1977 he became a teacher-administrator for Migrant Education Region III in San Joaquin County (Lodi), later transferring to Region II (Napa, Mendocino, Humboldt, Del Norte counties). He was a tireless advocate for the rights of the children of migrant farm workers and spent his time establishing and supervising programs for K-12 and community college students. Although he retired from Migrant Education in 2000, he could not stay still, so he began employment with the Mt Diablo Unified School District in Concord CA, moving from substitute teacher to After School Coordinator (elementary and ultimately secondary). He finally retired in 2014 at age 80.
Manuel was small in stature but had an outsized personality, making friends wherever he went. He was kind, generous with a great smile and sense of humor, but he had "no hairs on his tongue" when it came to expressing his opinions. Manuel was a true family man. When not working, he supported his children and grandchildren by attending their varied musical and athletic activities (soccer, track, basketball, baseball) as well as coaching his sons' soccer teams. He was a true foodie and the Master Griller and Sangria/Pina Colada Maker for the many celebrations held at his home with his family and friends. He loved to travel, go dancing, discuss politics and watch European soccer (especially Barcelona and Real Madrid). His last four years were spent coping with Lewy Body dementia, heart and mobility issues.
Manuel is survived by his wife Pat, daughter Franchesca Maria Grabowski(Joe), sons Manuel Carlos(Carla) and Luis Miguel(Monica), daughter Liliana Marie Ventura-Mitchell (Keith); 10 grandchildren-Amanda, Kira, Solomon, Vanessa, Rita, Alex, Shane, Noah, Noemi and Ty; 3 great-granddaughters--Aniyah, MaLeah and Raelyn; brothers Rolando, Reynerio, Mauro and sister Ada Marina and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Manuel and Vita Celia, his sisters Zoila and Danelia, and brother Oscar.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to St Jude's Research Hospital (his special charity) or Lewy Body Disease Association would be appreciated. https://www.stjude.org/ https://www.lbda.org/