Manuel Fernandez Neves Obituary (1934 - 2015)

Manuel F. Neves Jr., 80, of El Dorado Hills, California passed away on April 24, 2015. He was born to the late Manuel F. Neves Sr. and Agnes Kainapau Kea Neves, May 5, 1934, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Manuel was the eldest of 15 children. He always hungered and thirsted for knowledge. Manuel received a scholarship to study with the Franciscan Friars at Mission Santa Barbara before he was thirteen. Once he graduated from the mission, he then went on to receive his BA in Philosophy from the University of San Francisco. Of course, learning never stopped for Manuel as he considered himself to be a life-long learner. Manuel married the late Melida Zacarias Mora, February 8, 1958, and they were married over 50 years. He was a tireless advocate for promoting the rights of working men and women as well as helping others who were less fortunate. Manuel was a lifelong member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 85, employed as a teamster truck driver for S.E. Rykoff for nearly 40 years, and served as a shop steward. He later served as a Business Agent for the Teamsters Local Union 856 in San Francisco. One of the most noteworthy events he was involved in was marching alongside Cesar Chavez in 1974. He served his community in numerous ways including an appointment to the Rent Stabilization Board in San Francisco, California under then Mayor Diane Feinstein, twenty years on the Selective Service Board, director of the Visitacion Valley Community Center, founder of the Catholic Organization for the Hispanic Community (COHISPA), and Chancellor / 4th Degree Knight with the Vaca Valley Council #4901 of the Knights of Columbus. His greatest desire was to help, solve and serve people dealing with challenging issues. He enjoyed giving of himself. Manuel promoted Hawaiian culture and history in the San Francisco Bay Area by founding the Polynesian Cultural Society, and as a member of the Kalakaua Hawaiian Civic Club of San Francisco. He was the first to have two Hawaiian double-hull canoes (Malia class) built in California. Manuel is survived by six children: Manuel, Damien, Cecilia, Lawrence, Maria and Rosanna.