Manuel Fonseca

1967 - 2022

Manuel Fonseca
March 16, 1967 - August 27, 2022
Dr. Manuel Miranda Ribeiro Fonseca, loving husband, father, son, brother, uncle, colleague, and friend passed away in the early morning of August 27, 2022, in San Francisco, CA at the age of 55.
Manny was born to Fernanda and Manuel Fonseca on the morning of March 16, 1967, in the Praia da Vitória coastal community, on the Island of Terceira in the Azores of Portugal. Ten months later, Manny became a big brother to Lúcia, and in 1975 his brother Fernando rounded out their family. Manny attended elementary school in Praia de Vitória until the age of 12 when his family then decided to relocate to the Central California community of Gustine.
While living in Gustine, Manny attended and graduated from Gustine High School. Upon graduating, he enrolled at California State University, Stanislaus where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and minored in Spanish and Chemistry. In 1994, he received his Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Life Chiropractic College West, followed by his Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician designation from Palmer Chiropractic College West in 1999. In 2007, Manny earned his certification as Diplomate of the American Chiropractic Rehabilitation Board from Southern California University of Health Sciences. Manny's passion for his craft led him to open his own practice, International Chiropractic Centre, in San Francisco's Mission District, where he served the community for 24 years.
In 1994, while attending a party in the Oakland Hills, Manny was introduced to a striking Persian woman by the name of Sheila Knopoff. Always one to know a good thing when he saw it, Manny befriended and eventually courted Sheila. In October of 1996, the two married at St. Dominic's Catholic Church in San Francisco and laid down their roots as a family in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco. God blessed Manny and Sheila in 2006 with the birth of their son, Alexandre. In 2009, they were blessed for a second time as they welcomed Isabel into this world. Though the two had many blessings in their lives, Alexandre and Isabel were their most important.
During his formative years on the island of Terceira, Manny developed a love for the ocean and beachside communities that continued throughout his lifetime. It's no coincidence that his favorite vacation spots were tropical locales like Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Mexico, with Hawaii being his favorite as it reminded him of his beloved homeland. Although not a tropical locale, one of Manny's favorite places to visit was Santa Cruz with Sheila, Alexandre, and Isabel. Many of Alexandre and Isabel's friends benefitted from Manny's generous spirit as the children almost always took a friend along with them on their Santa Cruz day trips. Though all of those locations held happy memories for Manny, his heart remained true to the island where he grew up. He took great pleasure in returning to Portugal with family and friends to share his love of the country and its culture. His goal, and one which was always achieved, was to create a memorable experience by taking people to destinations on Terceira Island that were near and dear to his heart.
When not at the beach or in the office, Manny had a variety of interests. He enjoyed stamp collecting, playing Words With Friends, visiting amusement parks, and binge-watching James Bond movies, both old and new. In the last few years, Manny developed a keen interest in exploring his ancestry and relished the excitement of opening his Ancestry.com account and discovering a relative near and far.
Behind his subtle smile was a man with a quick wit, a strong moral compass, deep compassion for those less fortunate, and the desire to mentor and encourage others to reach their potential. Most importantly, he was deeply committed to his family. He was a fierce protector and an exceptional role model to them. Manny was loved by many, respected by all, and will be deeply missed.
Manny is preceded in death by his father, and namesake, Manuel Fonseca, and his mother-in-law, Giti Knopoff.
Manny is survived by his wife, Sheila; son, Alexandre; daughter, Isabel; mother, Fernanda; sister, Lúcia Fonseca Coelho and her husband Frank; brother, Fernando Fonseca and his wife Shireen; sister-in-law Leila Jones and her husband Michael; as well as his father-in-law Jerry Knopoff. Manny was proud of his nieces and nephews that he now leaves behind: Devin Fonseca, Michael and Nicholas Coelho, and Oliver and Rose Jones.
Services for Manny will be held on Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at Saint Cecilia Catholic Church. Services will include a 10:00 a.m. Visitation, 10:30 a.m. Rosary, and an 11:00 a.m. Funeral Mass, followed by a burial at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo, CA.