- Date Of Birth: October 20, 2003
- Date Of Death: July 17, 2019
- State: New Mexico
Our precious little Angel, Sir Manuel Martin Tapia, 15 years old, an absolutely beautiful and immeasurably gifted and brilliant, young man in all respects, was taken from us too soon on July 17, 2019. This tragedy has caused a statewide outpouring of grief — testified to the light he brought every person he graced with his presence during his life — a light that triumphs and still shines during these dark days.
Manuel was born in Albuquerque, NM on October 20th, 2003, to his parents Dionne Harding-Tapia and Jose Tapia. Since an early age, he exceeded all expectations as he was exceptionally bright. Known to all as Manny, he was and is exceptionally loved and revered by everyone he graced with his Angelic aurora.
He was the best big brother to Marcos Tapia, 12 and little brother to Moises Tapia, 18. Manny loved building with his brothers. The extreme-crazed LEGO battles were serious, relentless, and very dangerous. All knew to steer clear of the LEGO Battle Station, as the boys were zipping around faster than the speed of light, LEGOs flying through the air, terror screams because LEGO pieces that wouldn’t cooperate and the clock was ticking, terrified LEGO characters coming to life and running for their life, and ultimately being so proud of each other and grateful for the blessing of having such a kindred brother bond.
Most loving and caring son to his Mother, and his Father’s right-hand little man. He was loved and admired by all his friends; he was the positive professor of encouragement. He was impressively responsible in all situations. He was Doctor Manny on-campus to many friends. He was a fixer and an uplifter. Manny truly was a savior for so many, he touched and changed the lives of many friends. Many of Manny’s friends have deemed Manny the reason they continued life, continued school, continued looking forward to a better future. His support, his connection, his encouragement, his inspiration served as many friends’ reason to not give up and not give in. A very special friend of Manny’s hold dear to her heart the sincere support and motivation Manny graced her with, as he called her every morning — a Wake-Up Call for school. Encouraging her to wake up, get ready, and look forward to the day.
He was a peacekeeper in all situations. He was so selfless and caring. He had the highest level of integrity, self-discipline, and honor. He had a superior level of whit that simply couldn’t be matched. He had the most splendid etiquette and manners.
He was the most dapper young man, stunning, always styling in his signature bowtie – dapper at all times, his bowtie was even incorporated into his pajamas. He was such a joyful presence to be in and he was the most fun young man.
Manny loved Halloween and everyday was Halloween with his Tricks and Treats, and since a child, he was a master prankster, scarer, and jokester. It mattered not that he gave heart-attacks from his scares, as you could never be upset at the laughing cute little angel wearing a bowtie as it was an honor to be apart of his scare pranks. Manny was such an amazing character, from his adorable British accent “Ello” greeting in his bowtie — to his Magic Tricks, he was simply perfect.
He had remarkably high standards for himself and was so incredibly hard-working, continually pushing himself to achieve more and he succeeded in all his strives.
He had immeasurable intelligence and truly was a Little Einstein – in a precious bowtie.
Manny was: an Artist, Graphic Designer, Carpenter, Builder of Literally Anything, Inventor, Electrical Engineer, Computer Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Traveling Waves Sound Scientist & Engineer, Body Language Analyst, Poised Critic, Master LEGO Builder, Marvel Superhero, DC Comic Superhero, Scientist, Medical Doctor, The Elitist Attorney, Astronomer, Astronaut, Rocket Builder and Scientist, PhD-World Renowned Therapist-Psychologist, Humanitarian, Philanthropist, Elite Babysitter, Elite Trickster and Magician, the sweetest and cutest Professional S’mores demander and eater, and so so much more. Manny was everything and he did it all with the utmost poise, elegance, eloquence, excellence, and respect. Since he was little, Manny would say “I’m a professional.”, at whatever he was doing the chances were 100% likely that he was a professional at it, regardless if he had never done it before. Need help building a Skyscraper? Manny is a professional and in 2 minutes and you’ll have a fully operational LEGO Skyscraper.
Manny and his Father especially held a very dear, heartfelt, and special bond. Something Manny’s Father holds very dear to his heart is their precious Father-Son projects and activities. Throughout their precious Father-Son, projects, Manny’s Father would often become Manny’s pupil, as Manny would instantly improve and expand any project. Manny always had a way to better the project. Manny made everything its best version, the new and improved version, the Manny Edition 3000. The best of the best. Manny consistently surprised and made his Father exceptionally proud, by taking his Father’s teachings and their projects and finding an even better way to execute the projects. Manny would often leave his Father so proud and in awe asking, “How does he know this?, How did you do that?”
As a child, when Manny accompaned his Father to work, Manny first began asking questions about all the Blue Prints, from that moment forward Manny began to draw his own Blue Prints.
Manny’s relationship and bond with his Father was truly special and irreplaceable and a thousand pages could be written. Manny took his Father’s teachings of engineering and advanced it, he took his Father’s teachings of being an Honorable Man and Manny as just a very young boy became not just an Honorable Young Man, but the most Honorable Young Man.
Manny took his Father’s teachings of Catholicism and family traditions and took them to heart. There wasn’t a time when Manny forgot to say his prayers and bless his food and for anyone else whom forgotten. Forgot to Bless your food? It’s alright; Manny said it for you and he also prayed to help you remember next time. Manny blessed a significant amount of people of all ages.
At Cibola High School, Manny was a Scholar, an exceptional student, achieving Academic honors and Character awards since the beginning of his education. Manny was both brilliant and kind, a very rare blend in today’s world.
It is this combination of talent and work ethic that led to the incredible success he’d already achieved at such a young age. Manny was such a humble kind sweetheart, he wanted everyone else to succeed, such a humble-kind sweetheart, he would offer help to an opponent.
Manny was a young man of an infinite amount of talents. He loved to Ski. He loved the Snow. He loved the Classical Cinema, Arts, and Music; Folk and Ethnic Arts; Scientific Arts; Astronomical Art; Bio Arts; Visionary Arts; Amine & Manga Arts; Pop Arts; Comic Arts; Cartoon Art; Caricature Arts; Digital Arts; and Dream Art.
He loved the Cinema Arts and he loved Superheroes, Marvel and DC Comics. He was an astounding artist; he was a natural and was self-taught in his prestigious arts. Manny, as just a small child would draw his favorite Superheroes from start to finish with perfect accuracy, all from memory. Not using a photo as a reference, no tracing, but from memory.
All of Manny’s art is stunning and especially his Dream Art was so peacefully but profoundly moving. It was like looking into multiple stunning Galaxies and Universes and Dimensions, his art made you truly feel the questions he was illustrating: “What Is Life? What Is Our Purpose? How Far Does Outer Space Go? Why Did God Create the Stars?”. You couldn’t help but truly feel his serious curiosity about everything. It was and is unlike anything else, simply because it was created by Manny, a unique-remarkable and beautiful insight into his mind.
So movingly talented, so exceedingly gifted, Manny even taught himself to play one of the most sophisticated musical instruments — the Piano — an instrument that less than 25% of people can play. Less than 25%, and Manny — taught himself.
Scholar Manny competed, excelled, and was nationally ranked in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) programs specializing in Computer Graphics Design, Video Game Development, Coding, and Robotics. Manny even flew Drones and was excitedly looking forward to training for and earning his Drone and Aircraft Pilot’s License. He received many accolades, had his art showcased at school, within local arts communities, including showcased at the National Hispanic Cultural Center and recently won First Place in Game Design for RoboRAVE International, he was also a Scholar in the University of New Mexico’s High School NSBE STEM Program.
Manny was destined for the utmost greatness. He without a doubt, Manny was going to be at MIT, at Georgetown, at Yale, at The Academy of Art University, all at the same time and would have graduated with the highest honors in just 1 Year. Manny was going to become the most successful CEO and Founder and Inventor of all his endeavors. He admired some of his most influential and technologically advanced Companies of our time.
DreamWorks Animation, Pixar Animation Studios, Tesla INC, Apple INC, Boeing Company, and Space Exploration Technologies Cooperation. They would’ve all been looking up to Manny, as he would’ve begun to lead the way. Manny was our Tony Stark
His ability to clearly and creatively express himself, the gentleness and peacefulness of his presence and most especially, the brightness and warmth of his smile and laughter – Manny’s life, his talents, and the work he has left us with will continue to be celebrated and honored forever. Every person Manny met was touched by his Angelic peace, kindness, care, consideration, and sincere response to every situation. You cannot ask for a nicer, gentler, sweeter and more supportive young man than Manny — as that does not exist.
The day of Manny’s birth, we were all blessed. He came to us beaming of Divine Light, then we watched him rise as a shining star, along the way he gifted us all and for many he was their Light in their times of Darkness. Manny is very simply just the best darn Son, Brother, Grandson, Cousin, Nephew, and Friend any of us could ever imagine.
It is impossible to believe that such a positive and unsurpassable force of Angelic Energy is gone from this world. We are all unequivocally devastated by this horrid tragedy, this is far beyond a tragedy and it just does not seem real. Many of us have asked and said, “How could this happen to Manny? How could God let this happen? Why?!” “If this happened to Manny – no one is safe, no one is protected, there is no hope left.”
We all have the right to make those statements and be upset with the people who’ve caused this tragedy. We all have the right to make those statements and ask those questions as they are valid. Sadly, it is often the most gifted and truly special people that go. They are called back to Heaven to join God’s Army to continue to fight in the battle we face on Earth. They are called back to Heaven. If you thought you were made to feel safe and loved in Manny’s presence, you just wait and see what he does for you, now that he has wings.
He is now in its entirety, the benevolent celestial being. He has elevated to his highest self and being, his very existence has only grown more powerful. Its been raised into an even greater eternal, undimishable, and limitless. He is still here guiding us to dualism, enlightening and awakening us, encouraging us to become our highest and best self.
Our Manny was taken from us too soon. He has left Earth in the physical, but Manny’s Spirit, his Energy, and his Light will forever be with us.
His advanced interest in Science and the interconnection of the Universe and God, was something that was so far advanced that the only person that would be able to entirely comprehend his theories and questions are the actual Ancient Aliens and God in which he believed in.
Manny always had dreams of exploring Space, he was endlessly curious about and deeply thought of Space, the Galaxies, the Planets, and the Stars, now Manny will have the answer to every single question he dreamt of and drew of. He’s bending Space and Time. He’s can finally Time Travel. He has met the real Clark Kent. He’s met Thor. He’s met Batman. He’s met Flash.
His Quantum Questions, he’s answering for himself. The Matrix, he’s figuring out. Manny’s questions about the connection between the impossible-to-understand Sciences and the Heavens and the Angels, he’s getting those answers. Manny can now explore everything he has ever dreamt of and more. He’s helping to create a whole new universe.
As the Divine Night Sky appears, as the Moon rises, as the Stars, Planets, and Galaxies appear, we can look up and know unquestionably that Manny is there, unless he’s away in another Galaxy (-:
Manny was an Angel, Manny was a Savior, Manny was a Blessing, Manny was Royal. All that he was, he is. Manny truly was not of this time; he was truly out of this world. Manny was already an Angel, and now he is an Angel in the Heavens. Manny is relieved of his pain and his injuries.
