Manuel J.A. Hinds
August 30, 1930
October 22, 2020
Dr. Manuel John Alvarado Hinds (Manny) was born the second son of Francisco Alvarado Gallegos and Angela Hinds Avelar on August 30, 1930 in San Salvador, El Salvador. He was reunited with his wife in Heaven on October 22, 2020 at the age of 90.

Manny's family sailed to New York City in 1932 when his father was appointed Consul General to the United States. In 1947, Manny's father was removed from his consul position, leaving Angela to raise their three boys while he migrated to Venezuela to find work. His mother was a devout Catholic and she raised her sons to be as well. Angela and the two older boys left the United States for one day and re-entered as permanent residents; five years later, they became American citizens.

Manny graduated from Fordham University and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, remaining on reserve status for four years while he earned his M.D. at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Manny resigned his commission in 1967 after ten years of active service in the Air Force and settled his family permanently in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He went into surgical practice in Tulsa and Broken Arrow, Oklahoma until his retirement in 2000. After retirement he continued as a Physician volunteer at Xavier Medical Clinic every Wednesday for many years.

While in Med School, Manny worked summers as a caddy at the Lake Placid Club, where he encountered a pretty redhead working as a waitress. They were introduced through mutual friends, and it was love at first sight. Two years later, in 1956, Manny married that redheaded waitress, the love of his life, Patricia Willey of Rochester, New York. With his dark and handsome El Salvadorian features and her distinctive red hair, the couple was often compared to Lucy and Ricky Ricardo. Their first daughter, Kathryn, was born in 1958 in New York City, followed in 1960 by their son, Mark, in San Antonio, Texas. The year 1962 found the family living on Tachikawa Air Force Base in Japan, where their third and final child, daughter Janet, was born.

Manny made fast friends with people everywhere he went, and he was a loyal friend. For over 40 years after leaving the Air Force, Manny and Pat met up with several couples from the Air Force for an annual trip--skiing the last week in February every year until their knees finally gave out and they had to start going to the beach instead. He was an active member of the Tulsa Men's Club and was always the life of the party. Manny and Pat cleaned up nicely, but they especially excelled at costume parties, winning most costume contests they entered.

Manny was a natural performer, and he especially loved to sing--his voice was often compared to Elvis' and Frank Sinatra's. He joined the Montereau chorus at its inception and was always eager to solo when given the opportunity. When he wasn't performing, Manny enjoyed reading and solving crossword puzzles.

Manny was a wonderful father and grandfather, and he was one of the most compassionate, gentle, and generous human beings on the planet. It is impossible to convey all of his accomplishments and what a truly amazing man he was, but to know him was to love him, and the world was a better place with him in it.

Manny was preceded in death by his loving wife of 59 years and 63 days, Patricia Hinds, his parents, and his two brothers, Frank and Rick. He is survived by daughters Kathryn Adams and husband Jim of Kellyville, Oklahoma and Janet Swan and husband Steve of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; son Mark Hinds of Afton, Oklahoma; granddaughters Angela (Sandlin) Barbour and husband Robert of Norman, Oklahoma and Amy Sandlin of Tulsa; grandson David Swan of Edmond, Oklahoma; great-grandchildren Andrew and Caitlyn Barbour of Norman; many nieces and nephews, including nephew Rod Alvarado of Albrightsville, Pennsylvania who lived with them for almost four years and was like a son to them; and a host of extended family and friends.

The family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff at The Chateau and The Villa at Montereau as well as the nurses at St. John's Hospital for taking such excellent care of Manny.

Contributions in Manny's memory may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.