Manuel Agusto Santamaria-Baltierrez

Manuel was predeceased by his son and two grandsons.  His beloved son, Manuel Agusto Santamaria-Ames, Jr. (died age 42 in April 2000) and Manuel Rey Santamaria, III (died age 28 in April 2020) the son of Manuel Jr.   His other grandson was Sean Michael Carraher (died age 36 in August 2022) the son of daughter Ivy.   He always longed to see his beloved mother Adela Regina Baltierrez-Gil and his younger half-brother Pedro Luis Belevan-Baltierrez again.  We can all find solace in knowing he has been reunited with them.  What a joyous reunion it must have been for all of them.

He will be forever loved and missed by his entire family.  He was also greatly loved and will be greatly missed by the many friends he’d made since his arrival in the U.S. He made all friends feel like family.

He had a magic way of making each of us feel like we were all his “favorite” and we all believed him.

Early in his life, at about the age of 13, Manuel met the love of his life, Luz, when they both attended and graduated from Sepulveda Secondary School in San Vicente de Cañete. They married in 1954 and were married 69 years at his passing.

Early in his childhood, Manuel dreamed of moving to the U.S. In early 1966, he made that dream come true. His wife and children joined him in late 1966 after he had secured a job, residence, and air passage for his wife and children. The family lived in El Monte until 1974 when they bought their first home and moved to West Covina. Manuel was a resident of West Covina, California when he passed.

Manuel retired from Southern Pacific Railroad, as a sheet metal worker, where he worked for 20 years, a job he enjoyed and made many lifelong friends.  He had a personal wish, had he had the chance, he would have liked to become an airplane pilot.  His favorite activity was spending time with friends and family.

Please share your memories of Manuel in sections below.

Services will be held at :

Forest Lawn, Covina Hills Memorial Chapel on Thursday, May 25, 2023, at 21300 Via Verde St, Covina, California.

Visitation will begin at 10 am, eulogies will be from 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Priest - Funeral Services from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm

Interment from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm in Court of Christian Heritage 615-2A.

Lunch and celebration will follow immediately thereafter at Sabor a Perú located at 235 E. Rowland Street, Covina, California.

See you later Papi.