Manuel Salinas, Jr.

LOS FRESNOS, TX. – 

In Loving Memory of Manuel Salinas, Jr. 

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Manuel Salinas, Jr., 66, who entered eternal rest on Thursday, the 13th of March 2025, in the comfort of his home in Los Fresnos, surrounded by his loving family after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Manuel was preceded in death by his parents, Manuel Salinas and Amparo Nuño Salinas, and by his nephew, Carlos E. Hernandez.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 38 years, Vicenta G. Salinas, whom he proudly declared he fell in love with at first sight; his beloved sons, Julian M. Salinas (Jazmin) and Adrian A. Salinas; and his cherished grandson, Julian Jay, whom he affectionately called "Mon Chou Chou". His family was his greatest joy, and he took immense pride in the remarkable young men his sons had become. He looked forward to gardening with his grandson as well as teaching him and sharing with him his passion for life.

Manuel is also survived by his siblings: Gloria Sais (Mario), Amparo (Joe Pena), Linda Khaledi (Jamshid), Antonio Salinas (Kim), Mary Ramirez (Josue), Martin Salinas (Isabel), Jesus Salinas, Sophie Salinas, Cindy Salinas, and Melissa Karavasilis (Matthew); as well as numerous nieces and nephews who loved and admired him.

A Life Dedicated to Education and Knowledge.

Born on July 24, 1958, in Brownsville, Texas, Manuel graduated from Pan American University in 1984 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. His passion for education led him to the start of his career working at La Esperanza Home for Boys and Girls for four years. In 1988, he moved his family to Wisconsin to obtain a Master's degree in Special Education. Upon returning to Texas in 1990, he began a long and fulfilling teaching career for the Brownsville Independent School District at Vela Middle School, formerly Paredes Line Ninth Grade Campus, where he taught special education for 30 years.

Manuel was an educator who was deeply respected, loved and admired by his students and colleagues. He dedicated his life to mentoring, inspiring, and shaping young minds. He also ran a successful community garden program with the City of Brownsville for over eight years, teaching students gardening skills to fulfill their community service. Additionally, he worked at JJAEP, making an impact by guiding and positively influencing the lives of many juveniles in need of redirection.

A lifelong learner, Manuel never stopped seeking knowledge. He very often spoke about the importance of a good education, encouraging others to seek it for themselves. He was an avid reader who could spend hours immersed in his esteemed books. He loved history and literature and enjoyed engaging in passionate discussions about political and social issues. He loved reading passages out loud to anyone who would listen. Some of his favorite authors included Lewis Lapham, Cormac McCarthy, Christopher Lasch, Erick Larson, Philip Roth, and Don DeLillo. His books and literary magazines were among his most treasured possessions.

A Life Lived with Passion and Purpose.

Manuel found much joy in life’s simplest yet most profound pleasures. He had an eclectic taste in music allowing him to appreciate melodies in any language. His life’s passion was the garden, always finding ways of incorporating it into his lessons, sharing his love for nature with his students. He spent countless hours birdwatching, exploring, and embracing the beauty of the world.

A devoted family man, Manuel took his loved ones on many long road trips to state and national parks and across the country, creating beautiful, lasting memories. He had a deep reverence for nature and was also passionate about sharing his love for the outdoors with all his family and friends. When traveling, he delighted in taking scenic routes and was known for taking detours just to admire the view, even if it meant deviating from the planned destination.

Manuel had a remarkable ability to connect with people. He could talk to anyone, anywhere, at any time, believing that through open conversation and sharing about ourselves, people could find we all had more things in common than we realized. Through this gift, he was able to create lasting, meaningful friendships, even more so recently, during his journey with cancer.

His Words, His Legacy.

An entry from Manuel’s Daily Stoic Journal, dated July 16, 2020, reflects his core values:

Who am I and what do I stand for?

"I am Manuel Salinas. I stand for many things. I stand for justice for the oppressed; I stand for compassion for all living things; I stand for love of my family, nature, and myself; I stand for empathy for those who are less fortunate than me; I stand for educating the uneducated, and I stand for all the beauty that man has created through art, music, science, and literature."

Manuel leaves behind a legacy of love, knowledge and kindness profoundly impacting the hearts of those who knew him. Until we meet again, he will be loved, missed and remain within our hearts and minds forever.

“I carry your heart with me. (I carry it in my heart.)” - E. E. Cummings

• Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, the 18th of March 2025 between the hours of eleven o'clock in the morning and nine o'clock at night, with a chapel service to commence at seven o'clock Tuesday evening within the East Chapel of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home. All services will conclude Tuesday night. Cremation will follow.
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Personalized funeral arrangements directed by Steven R. Hieu Bailey, CFSP and Staff have been entrusted to the care of Darling-Mouser Funeral Home at 945 Palm Boulevard in Brownsville, Texas 78520, (956) 546-7111.