Manuel P. Rivera |
| Posted 2009-09-03 by Edward Peed |
| Manuel P. Rivera, 73, passed away peacefully at his Tempe home on Aug. 29, 2009 after a long battle with cancer. A native Arizona son and U.S. Air Force veteran, he was born in Hayden on Feb. 3, 1936, and was raised in Phoenix. Manuel received a music scholarship to attend Northern Arizona University. He played saxophone professionally with the Chicho Mendoza Orchestra, which was broadcast live frequently on KPHO-TV in the early 1950s. After military service, he worked for the State of Arizona Highway Department as a traffic maintenance technician. He continued his career as the City of Tempe Traffic Maintenance Supervisor, moving his family to Tempe in 1965. After his retirement in 1989 to his death, Manuel and his wife Alice, balanced living between his home in Tempe and a small farm in Dudleyville. Manuel loved summers boating on Saguaro Lake, fishing and camping in the Arizona White Mountains, gardening at his farm, exploring the Sonoran desert, and hosting family barbeques. He will be missed by all whom were comforted by his gentle strength, challenged by his quiet wisdom, and entertained by his quick and dry wit. He was preceded in death by his parents, Agustin and Gertrude, brothers Ernest and Rey. He leaves behind his wife of 53 years, Alice Arbizu Rivera; son, Paul Rivera; daughters, Catherine Carey and Suzanne (Andy) Padilla; grandchildren, James (Natalie) and Adam (Christina) Carey, Albino M. Moreno, Steven Moreno and Nicole Moreno; great-granddaughter, Alicia Maria Carey (the joy of his final days); brother, Agustin (Patricia) Rivera; sister, Christine Denogean; aunt, Dominga Sierra; and many, many nephews, nieces, and extended family. Services will be held at Mount Carmel Catholic Church at 2121 South Rural Road, Tempe, Arizona on Thursday, Sept. 3, at 9 a.m. Cremation and private burial will be at a later time. The family requests in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Hospice of the Valley at 777 West Southern Avenue, Suite 301, Mesa, AZ 85210. Arrangements were handled by Griffith Mortuary. |
Note: These obituaries are transcribed as published and are submitted by volunteers who have no connection to the families. They do not write the obituaries and have no further information other than what is posted within the obituaries. We do not do personal research. For this you would have to find a volunteer who does this or hire a professional researcher.
Questions About This Project?