Manuel Soto, Jr.

Manuel Soto, Jr., passed away on September 14, 2015, in Orlando, Florida, surrounded by family.

Manuel was born in New York City to Puerto Rican parents and grew up in Jamaica Queens, NYC. He attended community college in New York City, where he played basketball and wanted to become an engineer. He enlisted in the Navy, where he served for four years in the Korean conflict, working as a mine sweeper.

Upon his return in the late 1950s, he moved to Puerto Rico and worked as a pit boss at San Juan casinos. He married his longtime friend, Helen Kohout, in Long Island, N.Y., in 1968, and the pair returned to Puerto Rico to live. They had a daughter, Elena, in 1971, and lived in the Caribbean island for a few more years.

In 1975, Manuel and his family moved to Orlando, Florida, where he worked in the convention service business and aircraft maintenance industry. He retired in 1997. He was an avid reader of science fiction and historical biographies and closely followed professional tennis matches on the TV.

He's survived by wife Helen, daughter Elena Soto Jervis, a son-in-law, Rick Jervis, and two granddaughters, Emmanuelle and Isla Jervis.

Visitation

Carey Hand Colonial Funeral Home
2811 Curry Ford Road
Orlando, FL  32806
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
5pm to 8pm

Service

Funeral Service

Carey Hand Colonial Chapel
2811 Curry Ford Road
Orlando, FL  32806
Thursday, September 17, 2015
11am

Cemetery

Woodlawn Memorial ParkH
400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road
Gotha, FL  34734