April 20, 1926 - September 13, 2017
Manuel Edwin Mingoia died at his San Francisco home September 13, 2017 after a long decline with pulmonary disease. He was 91.
Many will remember Ed, as he was known, as a contributor and participant in the city's early non-bar gay advocacy and social organizations. He led groups in the first Gay Rap (First Congregational Church) and Society for Individual Rights in the 1960s and 1970s, and the Bay Area Network of Gay and Lesbian Educators, Gay Men's Spiritual Retreat. In recent years he was involved with senior support, journal writing, and discussion groups. Ed was one of the late Betty Garvey's assistants when she directed what is now the Castro Senior Center. For many years he served as a facilitator for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance at St. Francis Hospital.
Early years in Los Gatos were followed by attendance at Santa Clara University and UC Berkeley, with degrees from San Francisco State University. He retired from 30-plus years of teaching in 1985. The U.S. Department of Education selected Ed to help with teacher training programs for two summers in Ethiopia and one summer in Nepal.
An avid traveler, Ed made two round-the-world trips, first by sea and later by air. He participated in more than 25 Road Scholar (Elderhostel) learning trips. Speaking both languages, he particularly enjoyed visits to Italy and Sicily.
He is survived by supportive relatives and friends. At his request there was no memorial service; burial at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery Mausoleum.