Manuel J. Palos

Local golf legend and Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame inductee Manny Palos, husband of the late Helen Fekete Palos, died at St. Luke?s VNA Hospice House on Tuesday, April 10 after a long illness, surrounded by his family. He was 89.

Born in Mexico, in the tiny village of Juanacatlan, Jalisco, Manny was the son of the late Michael and Josephine Orozco Palos. At age nine, he and his mother brought his three younger brothers and sister, to America, where they became American citizens. In 1998 Manny was presented with an official citation from both the Senate and House of Representatives of Pennsylvania for having voted 50 consecutive years in a row.

Throughout his childhood Manny was a member of Holy Infancy Roman Catholic Church; and after his marriage, St. John Capistrano Roman Catholic Church where he was a member of the Holy Name Society and the Knights of Columbus. He was also active in the school?s PTA.

Manny was the founder and owner of Palos Roofing. He hand-crafted and erected many of the steeple crosses still standing today on many of the Catholic churches in Bethlehem. Following his retirement from roofing, Manny worked for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation.

An accomplished golfer, Manny won numerous local and state tournaments, including the Lehigh Valley Amateur, six Bethlehem city titles, five Bethlehem club titles and three Bethlehem senior titles, as well as championships at Green Pond and Silver Creek country clubs. In 1959, he won the Pennsylvania Publinx team title and traveled to Colorado for the National Publinx tournament. He instructed many golfers in the Lehigh Valley including Liberty High School and Bethlehem Catholic High School Golf teams. His grandson, John Suter of Allentown, pursued a career in golf and became a PGA Professional. In September 2006, Manny was inducted into the Lehigh Valley Golf Hall of Fame. In addition to golf, Manny played semi-professional baseball and was an amateur boxer through the South Side Bethlehem Boys Club. He was also an avid hunter, once bagging an eight point buck.

Manny was married for 67 years to Helen Fekete Palos, who preceded him December 2005, and with whom he had 4 daughters: Dolores, wife of Richard Suter of Allentown, Susan, wife of Brad Bennetch of Bethlehem Township, Michele, wife of Ajit Samsi of Lafayette Hill, Pa., and Melissa, wife of Michael Sylvain of Lopatcong, NJ. Manny is also survived by 8 grandchildren, Suzi Francese, John Suter, Ken Kunsman, Alexandra Chorney, Lisa Young, Jessica Lopez, Haley Samsi, and Lindsey Samsi. and 14 great-grandchildren,.Danny Lopez, Antonio Lopez, Madison Young, Max Chorney, Angelina Francese, Ally Young, Ricky Frances, Sarah Lopez, Wes Young, Alex Suter, Sydney Kunsman, Sadie Kunsman, Maya Chorney, and Emily Suter. He was preceded in death by: brothers, Emiliano Palos, Salvatore Palos, E. R. ?Buddy? Palos. He is survived by:his sister, Theresa Quay of Mifflintown, Pa.

Calling hours will be held on Sunday, April 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. and Monday morning from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Connell Funeral Home, 245 E. Broad Street, Bethlehem. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, at 10 a.m., in Holy Infancy Church, 312 East Fourth Street, Bethlehem. Burial will be in Holy Savior Cemetery

In lieu of flowers, the family asks donations to be sent to the Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem, 1430 Fritz Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017.