Manuel S. Pina of Herndon, VA died Monday, June 27, 2011. He was 88 years old.
Born in Marion, he was the son of the late Serafin and Virginia Pina.
Mr. Pina served for 28 years in the United States Army before retiring as a Full Colonel. He was a veteran of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. He later worked for the National State Bank in New Jersey as a Bank Executive, finally retiring to Herndon.
He graduated Valedictorian of his class from Wareham High School in 1940 and received his Bachelor's degree in Business Management from the University of Alaska.
An avid bridge player and golfer, he was a member of the Reston Bridge Club, the 9-18 Golf Club in New Bedford, and a board member of the Herndon Centennial Golf Club. He was a communicant of St. John Neumann Church in Reston, VA.
He is survived by his wife Belmira Pina and his five children, Virginia Jones of California, Manuel M. Pina and his wife Dianne (Leitao) of Easton, MA , Stephen Pina and his wife Terry of Hollywood, CA ,Ricardo Pina and his wife Debra of Bordentown, NJ, and Marina Matthes and her husband Verlyn of Reston, VA; a sister Candida Tavares of Wareham; two brothers Edwin and Theodore Pina of Fairhaven. He is also survived by grandchildren Myron, Blaine, and Lydell of New Bedford, Austin and Nolan of Easton, with 17 other grandchildren, 36 great grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.
He was the brother of the late Mary Pina-Silva, Alice Pina, and Esther Pina all of Marion.
Funeral Services and burial were held in New Jersey. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday July 6, 2011 at 8 PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Home for Funerals, 495 Park St., New Bedford. Visiting hours will be on Wednesday from 4-8 PM prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Inova Health System Foundation (Heart and Vascular Institute) 8110 Gatehouse Rd. 200E, Falls Church, VA 22042. For directions and guestbook, please visit www.saundersdwyer.com.