Tony (Manuel) Anthony Pereira

     On Tuesday, October 15, 2019, Manuel Anthony “Tony” Pereira, loving husband, devoted family man, and friend to all, passed away peacefully at home, after a two-year battle with cancer. He was 66 years old. 

     Tony was born March 1, 1953, in Long Beach, CA, to Joaquim Domingo and Jeanette Dolores Pereira. He worked at Hughes Aircraft / Palomar Products for 41 years. He met his wife Pearl, on December 6, 1978, while working at Hughes. The pair became inseparable after Tony had an appendix operation in 1981. Pearl took Tony home to recover from surgery and he never left. They married and were together for 38 years of love and laughter.  

     Tony retired at 62 to enjoy more of the things he loved in life. He had a great appreciation for the beauty of Hawaii. He visited the islands eighteen times and was always ready for the next trip. His true passion was his family. He loved going for bike rides, beers, and beach cruises, with his son Arthur, vacationing with his wife, and joking with his grandchildren. He was also a lover of the natural world. He took pride in beautifying his yard, adopted stray cats, served as a volunteer firefighter, and was an avid photographer of sunrises and sunsets. As a hobby he collected and sold Hot Wheels, making up to 125 dollars on a one-dollar investment. He enjoyed the grocery store, shopping, clipping coupons, and especially getting to know the store employees. A true social butterfly, Tony made friends everywhere he went and never forgot anyone's name. His kindness, humor, and unyielding spirit will be remembered by all who knew him.  

     Tony is survived by his wife Pearl Pereira, son, Arthur, daughter-in-law Tina, and their children; Grandchildren, Marcus, Ashley, Andrew and Samantha. Daughter, Neisha Pereira. Grandchildren, Jerry, Jackie, and their mother Teresa Somoza. Grandchildren, Randall, Warren, and their mother Sunshine Cottrell. Parents Joaquim and Jeanette Pereira. Siblings, Diane O’Grady and her daughters, Crystal and Michelle, sister, Kathy her husband Tim Shaner and their children; Freddie, Elizabeth, Johnny, and Mikey. Michelle Bell and daughters Samantha and Carlie. Sister-in-law Susan Schoensee and children Gene Paul, Nicole and Joseph. Tony is preceded in death by son, Michael Cottrell and brother Donald Pereira. 

     Tony’s goal was to defeat his cancer and to help support our family member Kelly, a survivor of Leukemia with her yearly fundraising for the Light the Night Foundation. Please help us support Tony’s goal by joining us on November 2, 2019 in San Diego, for Light the Night, or by donating to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at: https://pages.lls.org/ltn/sd/sandiego19/theblts

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