Emmanuel P Pegas' Obituary
Emmanuel P. Pegas, known to many as Manny, was a first-generation Greek, born in Youngstown Ohio on February 22, 1931. He was the second of four children of Peter and Katherine Pegas. In 1943, the family moved to New Wilmington, Pennsylvania to open a burger and pie restaurant. He started working in the family restaurant at the age of 12. In 1946 the family moved to San Diego where they bought another restaurant. His first paying job, while in high school, was painting houses at night and on the weekends. He graduated from Hoover High School in San Diego. After High School he went to work at Convair, an American aircraft manufacturing company. He was drafted into the Army in 1952 and served in Korea for 19 months. In the summer of 1957, he went on a 3-month European Vacation with two friends from high school. On his way back to the states in the fall, his mother asked him to visit his grandmother, who was ill, in Pennsylvania. That's where he met, the love of his life, his beautiful bride Marina. How they met is a story in itself. They were married in 1958 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, where Marina's father was a priest in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. After their cross country honeymoon from Pennsylvania to San Diego, they moved into their first home in La Mesa, and later to Spring Valley where he and Marina raised a daughter and a son, Tina and Peter. He started a new job at North Island Naval Air Station as a civilian where he managed and supervised many departments like the paint, repair and avionics. He received many commendations for completing projects ahead of schedule. He retired in 1987 as a GS14. He was an active and faithful member of the Greek Orthodox Church community in San Diego. His faith and love of God was definitely passed on to his children. He served many terms as a parish council member, sang in the church choir for over 40 years, and was the official rice maker for the Easter picnics for almost two decades. Manny was a handyman. You name it; he could fix it or build almost anything. He was a woodworker, an avid reader, a cook, a wine maker, an award winning chili maker, and even an inventor. He invented an olive slicer when it came time to prepare homemade olives. Manny is survived by his beloved wife of 64 1/2 years, Marina, his children Tina (and Dn. Michael) Kallas, Peter Pegas, and his grandchild Hannah Kallas, whom he loved and adored with all of his heart. He so loved being a Papou (grandfather). He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was a son, a brother, an uncle, a cousin and a true friend. His last 6 months were the most problematic. He passed away peacefully at home on January 20, 2023, at the age of 91, surrounded by his family. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations are made to St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church, 3655 Park Boulevard, San Diego, CA 92103.
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