Emanuel Antonio Lopes Pinarreta

Emanuel "Manny" Pinarreta, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, godfather, cousin, friend, mentor, and colleague, passed away peacefully on July 31, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family, after a courageous 8-month battle with a rare and aggressive small cell neuroendocrine cancer. He was 55 years old.

Born in Povoação, São Miguel, Azores, Portugal on February 18, 1971. Emanuel immigrated to the United States, growing up in Massachusetts. He later made New Jersey his home for more than a decade before settling in New York, where he built a life rooted in family, friendship, faith, and community. Though he called several places home, he never lost his pride in his Portuguese heritage, his love for his family, or his gratitude for every opportunity life afforded him.

Emanuel is survived by his loving wife, Kristine; his beloved son in every way that mattered, Louis John; his mother, Linda Pavao, and stepfather, Carlos; his brother, Brian Pinarreta; his cherished godsons, Jacob Gomes and Alexander Pinarreta; his nephew, Brandon Pinarreta; his niece, Alyssa Pinarreta; and countless aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family members, coworkers, neighbors, and lifelong friends who became family.

For seventeen years, Emanuel and Kristine built a life filled with adventure, laughter, unwavering partnership, and unconditional love. Their story began unexpectedly at a work meeting, where Emanuel's teasing personality immediately got under Kristine's skin. What started with playful banter became a friendship, then a long-distance relationship, and ultimately the greatest love either of them had ever known.

After nearly two decades together, they fulfilled a dream they had talked about for years when they were married on May 12, 2026, in an intimate town hall ceremony. Though simple in its setting, it was one of the happiest days of their lives-a celebration of a love story that had already stood the test of time.

While Emanuel was an extraordinary husband, one of his proudest roles was being a father to Louis John. Though not connected by blood, they were connected by something even stronger-love, trust, and choice. From teaching Louis how to swim at just three years old to proudly teaching him to drive a manual transmission at eighteen, Emanuel showed up for every stage of his life. He never treated Louis as a stepson; he was simply his son.

The two shared countless hours playing video games, enjoying anime, battling through Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, talking about life, and growing together in their shared faith in God and Jesus Christ. Emanuel was his coach, mentor, teacher, role model, and biggest supporter. He celebrated every accomplishment, offered guidance through every challenge, and quietly demonstrated what it meant to become a good man.

Louis once shared that he wished he had Emanuel's remarkable ability to talk to anyone. It was one of the greatest compliments Emanuel could have received because it reflected who he truly was. His kindness, humor, confidence, and genuine curiosity allowed him to connect effortlessly with people from every walk of life. Friends often joked that Manny had never met a stranger. Whether someone knew him for five minutes or twenty years, they walked away feeling like they had known him forever.

Those closest to him affectionately called him "Handy Manny," because there seemed to be nothing he couldn't fix. Whether repairing something around the house, helping a neighbor, building a project, or solving someone else's problem, he approached everything with confidence, determination, and generosity. If someone needed help, Manny showed up.

His larger-than-life personality filled every room he entered. His booming laugh, quick wit, endless stories, and infectious energy made him impossible to forget. It wasn't unusual for Kristine to lose sight of him for a few minutes, only to find him laughing with someone he had just met.

His love for life was reflected in everything he did. He loved gathering family and friends around a fire pit, standing behind a grill preparing meals for everyone, traveling wherever the next adventure called, cheering passionately for Portugal, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Boston Bruins, listening to heavy metal music, and enjoying an ice-cold beer surrounded by good friends and even better conversation. Whether at Brodie's, AJ's, or anywhere else life brought him, Manny made every place feel like home.

Professionally, Emanuel built a respected career in the beer industry, where he became known as a leader, mentor, competitor, and trusted friend. He believed relationships mattered more than transactions, led by example, and inspired those around him through his integrity, work ethic, and genuine care for others.

Even after learning his illness was terminal, Emanuel refused to let cancer define him. Instead, he chose to embrace every moment he had left. He married the love of his life, fulfilled a lifelong dream of watching Portugal compete in the World Cup by traveling to Toronto and Dallas, spent precious time with family and friends, continued visiting customers he genuinely cared about, and somehow found a way to make everyone around him smile-even while facing unimaginable challenges himself.

Throughout his illness, Emanuel remained steadfast in his faith. He believed deeply in God, found strength in Jesus Christ, and trusted that even in suffering there was purpose. His resilience, humor, optimism, and unwavering faith inspired not only those who loved him most, but everyone fortunate enough to witness the extraordinary grace with which he lived.

His greatest legacy is not found in his accomplishments, but in the lives he changed. It lives in the husband who loved completely, the father who chose every single day to show up, the friend who never hesitated to help, the leader who inspired others to be better, and the countless people whose lives are richer because they knew him.

The world feels quieter without Manny in it. Yet his laughter will continue to echo around fire pits, his stories will be told over cold beers, his lessons will live on in Louis John, and his love will remain forever in Kristine's heart.

They truly broke the mold when they made Emanuel "Manny" Pinarreta.

He leaves behind a family who adored him, friends who were better for knowing him, and a legacy of love, laughter, faith, and generosity that will continue through every person fortunate enough to have known him.

He will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and endlessly loved.

Services Honoring Manny's Life

Family and friends are invited to pay their respects on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, during visitation hours from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at 97 Broadway, Verplanck, NY.

The following morning, the family will gather privately for a final farewell and casket closing with immediate family before proceeding to the Church of Holy Spirit.

Family and friends are invited to join the family for the Funeral Mass at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Cortlandt Manor at 10:15 a.m. For those who join us, Louis John and I would love for you to bring a photo, a story, and/or "Manny-ism" and share it in our memory book. 

A separate Celebration of Life will also be planned in New Bedford, Massachusetts, in the days following. Details will be shared once arrangements are finalized.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to Minkahz Nets Mission, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting, educating, and supporting people around the world affected by high-grade neuroendocrine cancer. Your generosity will help other families facing this rare disease find the same support, guidance, and sense of community that Emanuel and his family received when they needed it most.

The family entrusted Emanuel's care to the Flynn Family and staff of Flynn Funeral & Cremation Memorial Centers, Inc.