Emanuel Tirado Padilla, (Manuel), was born on January 9, 1936 in Lajas Puerto Rico, to Antonio Tirado y Innocencia Padilla. He was the youngest of four siblings, who all predeceased him; they were, Samuel Tirado, Antonio Tirado and Ana Maria Lopez. Manuel had 5 children from his first marriage, Manuel A Tirado, of Myrtle Beach SC., Mary Ann Smolley, Robert E Tirado Sr., Gilbert M Tirado and Luis M Tirado; all of Zephyrhills, Fl. He also had three daughters from other marriages, Helga Tirado of Waterbury and Wanda Tirado, who predeceased him as well as Cecilia Tirado of Puerto Rico. He had two stepchildren, who he raised as his own, Yanira Del Valle, of Florida and Hector M Cajigas of Puerto Rico. He had many grandchildren and great grand children, whom he loved very much!

He was a great man, who worked very hard all his life to provide for his children and later in life, his grandchildren. He found Jesus in his later years, and we are eternally grateful for this! His guidance and support throughout the years made us all who we are today! We all hope he knew how much he was loved!

Life was not easy for him but he was tough and didn't allow this to stop him. He was a businessman through and through. During his life he had grocery stores, a wholesale store, a couple of restaurants, (all humble businesses, but enough to provide for his family).

In the 60's he even ran for aldermen in Waterbury, CT, (a first for a Hispanic man at that time). He ran a Hispanic theater and he sponsored a Latin show a radio station in Waterbury. During the last decade and a half, or so, he made the best empanadillas that everyone in Waterbury loved! In his "Friquitin", he was happy seeing people enjoy his cooking.

In Puerto Rico, he enjoyed living by the ocean and all it offered. He surely loved his seafood!

Dad, now you can walk the shores in Heaven with everyone who has been waiting for you there and rejoice in the presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Until we meet again, Dad!