Our Pageant
Manuel Pinho
Postumo Marshal - 2018
Manuel was born in Ovar, Portugal in 1930 and came to this country in 1948, residing briefly in Brooklyn, NY before coming to Elizabeth. He worked as an expeditor for Banner-Pharmacaps, Elizabeth, retiring in 1994. Prior to that, he was a model maker for Federal Pacific Electric Co., Newark, N.J. Manuel D. Pinho had given generously of his time, talent and efforts to numerous Portuguese-American community endeavors, including as president and member of the board of directors of the Portuguese Instructive Social Club and its General Assembly, participating in many of its groups including performing and bowling; as director and manager of the Elizabeth Portuguese Soccer Club, as a board member of the Portuguese-American Citizens Club, and for many years was president of the Elizabeth Lodge of the Portuguese Continental Union, as well as the Filantropica Ovarense. In addition, he was a longtime parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima Church, serving on the Decoration Committee and its Parish Council, helping to facilitate the merger of Our Lady of Fatima with the parish of Sacred Heart. He was instrumental in the formation of the New Jersey Soccer League and served as its president. A member of the Elizabeth Rent Control Board, he continued to serve even after he and his wife retired and moved to Highlands, NJ, and continued to commute to Elizabeth to participate in events at the church and club. In Highlands, he became a member and president of the Highlands Community Center, the Highlands Historical Society, and the Highlands Seniors.
It had been a great source of pride for Manuel D. Pinho to share his birthday with Flag Day and he had long been dedicated to learning as much as possible about American history and sharing this knowledge with his family and friends. Manuel is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Rosa Tavares Pinho; two daughters, Elena Seminara and her husband, Michael, and Rosemarie Kasica and her husband, Christopher. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Alexandra Seminara/Hueter and Victoria Seminara, and one great-grandson, Jaxson.