APARICIO, Manuel, went to be with his Lord on June 13, 2008, surrounded by his
family at home. Manuel was born May 30, 1926, in Tampa where he lived his
entire life. He was the son of Manuel and Milagros Venazet Aparicio. He is
survived by his beloved wife, Consuelo Vega Aparicio, his son, Dr. Manuel
Aparicio IV, his daughter-in-law, Jacquelyne R. Kilpatrick Aparicio, his daughter,
Star Aparicio Schmidt, and his two grandsons, Michael Aparicio Schmidt and Ryan Aparicio Schmidt. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Fontanills, and was predeceased by his maternal half-brother, Henry Castro Aparicio, and his sister, Louise Pilsbury. When his mother died at too early an age, Manuel attended Boy’s Town in Nebraska, then under the guidance of Father Flannigan, whom Manuel always thanked for his care and teaching. He returned to Tampa to attend Jesuit High School. After serving in the Army Air Corp during World War II, he attended and received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tampa and then a master’s degree from Florida State University. As the son of one of the great “lectores” of Ybor City’s cigar factories, Manuel also was drawn to the education of working adults. He was the first supervisor of Adult Basic Education in Hillsborough Country and the first supervisor of the Adult Migrant Education Program. He ultimately founded and became the first principal of the Adult Day High School, the first in the state of Florida, and was the first recipient of the Outstanding Adult Administrator Award. After retiring from the Hillsborough County School System, he supervised interns at the University of South Florida and taught at Hillsborough Community College to inspire other teachers. All told, his career as an educator spanned almost five decades. He had so many dear friends, especially Bennie Diaz, Santos Rodriguez, and Carlos San Feliz, who were constantly there for him and supported his family. Thank you to Dr. Frank Figueroa who was also a very special friend since their days in the Air Corp and was always in Manuel’s heart.
Thanks also to the many doctors who cared for him, the very special nurses of St.
Joseph’s Cancer Institute, and the Life Path hospice “pink” team, especially Jayne
Steniks, who gave him care, love, and enduring hope. Manuel was so devoted
and proud of his son, grandsons, and his “little girl Twinkle”. He will be missed
but always in their hearts. A memorial and church service will be held at 11:00
am, Thursday, June 19 at St. Lawrence Catholic Church with Father Tom Morgan
officiating. Arrangements are by Veterans Funeral Care. His ashes will rest at
Florida National Cemetery with full military honors at 2:30 PM on June 19, 2008.
Veterans Funeral Care
727-524-9202
Mr. “A” visited us every Thursday at Brewster Tech. CenterAdult High Schoolto share his great sense of humor and his funny jokes. We will miss his warm smile and feel honored to have known him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
I will always remember Manuel as a kind, loving, and very funny man that loved his family. I will truly miss him and I’m so glad he was a part of my life.
Connie and family, We are so sorry for your loss. Manuel was one of a kind and he will be missed.
Our prayers are with you
Charlie and Sandra
Mr. Aparicio was my 9th grade science teacher at Sulphur Springs in 1959-1960. I was I guess fortunate enough to go through college and post graduate school. In all of that, only a handful of teachersprofessors come to mind as truly outstanding and he is certainly high on that list. I ran into him some years later and asked him how it had been to teach at a pretty rough for those days anyway school. He said that the teachers there called it the country club and that even the “bad” kids were good. He was a fine man who really cared about the kids.
A lifetime friend. My father was a
Lector and a friend of his father in the same profession. I enjoyed
his great humor at our coffee meetings. He was very proud of his
two grandsons accomplishments.
Hi Connie, I’m so sorry to here about Manny. You are in my thoughts and heart forever. Please get in touch with me 813855-5825. Love to Twinkle and little Manny.Tried so many times to call you but no answer. I still bake the best “lasagna” ever!!PS, Mike
Hi Connie, I’m so sorry to here about Manny. You are in my thoughts and heart forever. Please get in touch with me 813855-5825. Love to Twinkle and little Manny.Tried so many times to call you but no answer. I still bake the best “lasagna” ever!!PS, Mike
My first job when I arrived in Tampa in 1977 was at the Adult Day High School, where Mr Aparicio was the principal. He and others at the School inspired me to become a professional adult educator, and I eventually earned a PhD in Adult Education. I remember him fondly. My most sincere condolences and sympathy go to his family.
Manuel Aparicio hired me as his personal secretary when he began the adult basic education program in Hillsborough County. I was just a kid out of high school who had taken two years of secretarial training. Mr. “A”, as we all called him, was so nice to me the six years I worked for him. He said I was the only secretary that would have his dictated letters typed and ready to be mailed the same day. I always called him on his birthday each year and he would call me on my birthday, until a few years ago. I guess we lost contact due to him being sick, which I didn’t know about. I had retired from the County in 2005. I loved his sense of humor. Mr. “A” will always be missed. He was so proud of his children. Connie, my prayers are with you and your family.
My thoughts are with you all in the passing of Mr. Aparicio. He hired me for my first teaching job at the Adult High School in 1985. Mr. A was firm, fair, and friendly with the staff and students. His sense of humor was wonderful. He will be so missed by me and other staff from the Adult Program.
Sincerely,
Mary Frances
Dear Connie, I searched everywhere but could not find your address. Wanted to send you a card. Hope this reaches you. Love Gerry