New Port Richey, FL – Manuel “Manny” Mendes, of New Port Richey, formerly of Elizabeth, New Jersey passed away April 18, 2020 after a tough battle with cancer.

He was born November 10, 1947 in Prados, Portugal to the late Bernardino & Maria (Pedro) Mendes. He came to the United States, November 22, 1963 with his sisters and brothers to join his parents who preceded them in coming to the States. The family settled in Elizabeth, New Jersey among the densely populated Portuguese American community. Manny was a dedicated family man, an avid European soccer fan watching the games whenever he could and he loved to shoot pool at the P.A.C.A. club.

Manny married in 1971 and worked as a General Laborer in construction and maintenance in New Jersey. He relocated with his family to Florida in 1990 settling in the New Port Richey area. Manny was employed by Pasco County in Facilities Maintenance for 21 years before retiring in 2012.

Manny was very proud of his Portuguese culture and traditions so much so that in 1996 he founded along with 4 others the Portuguese American Cultural Association now located in Port Richey, Florida. This club carries on the culture & traditions, he so loved, through their members & families born or raised in mainland Portugal, the Azores, Brazil, Cape Verde and other countries where the Portuguese people settled at abroad and in the United States and their descendants born in the US.

Manny is survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Barbara (Heichel) Mendes , formerly of Roselle, N.J., their son Michael Mendes of New Port Richey & their daughter Michele Mendes of New Port Richey. He is survived by his sister, Deolinda Cunha & her husband Antonio of Elizabeth, N.J., his sister Virginia Esteves & her husband Jose of Newark, N.J., his sister Rosa Lage of Charlotte, N.C., his brother Francisco Mendes of Clark, N.J., & his brother John Mendes of Elizabeth, N.J. Manny is also survived by his grandchildren Megan Mendes, Mataya Mendes & Dyllan Mendes and by his loving nieces and nephews.

Cremation services will be handled by Thomas B. Dobies Funeral Home. There will be no services scheduled at this time. A memorial service will be held at a future time.