Emmanuel Manantan Tendero (Manny), 87, reunited with the love of his life, Kathryn McGlynn Tendero, on Saturday, April 26, 2025. His parents, Cuadrato and Julia Tendero, joined with Jesus and countless friends in proclaiming, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” He is survived by children Tony Tendero (Jennifer), Maria Laberteaux (Ken), and Cristina Tendero-Scott (Jason), as well as grandchildren Maxwell, Lily (Jorim) Whitley, Beatrice, Ezra, & Vivienne Tendero; Isaac & Elijah Laberteaux; and MaKenzie (Cameron) Umphrey, Julia & Lydia Scott. His grandchildren brought him great joy. He cherished his role as Lolo, and urged them to live lives of service, love and compassion.
Born November 23, 1937, Angeles, Pampanga, Philippines, Manny at age 4 fled to the family farm in Asingan while his father fought with US Army Philippine Scouts during the Japanese Invasion of WWII. His father died defending the Philippine Islands and received a Purple Heart from the U.S. Government for his bravery. After the war, Manny and his mom moved to Baguio City where they built a home and a small business. He developed a brotherhood with his childhood friends, Dudes, Jerry, and Junior. These boys looked out for each other, played basketball in flip-flops, went to 4th of July celebrations at the American embassy, and provided a sense of home as they grew up together.
As a teenager, he left his home to pursue his education in Manila at the University of the Philippines and Far Eastern University Medical School. During medical school his fieldwork brought him to the U.S. Clark Air Base and to Kathy, an Air Force nurse. Meeting Kathy at a party she was hosting, Manny showed that he had “game” (as the kids would say), leaving his umbrella behind at the end of the night. Returning the next day to retrieve it, he asked her out. He had found his person, his home. So they began a life of serving each other, loving each other, and building a home when they married in Milwaukee during a blizzard on January 23, 1965. Further education at the University of Michigan and Wayne State University brought Manny and Kathy to the Detroit area where they started their family and subsequently moved to Grand Rapids in 1975. Here they developed a love for the symphony, discovering new restaurants and watching their children and grandchildren flourish.
As a child psychiatrist, Manny learned about showing compassion and creating safe spaces for children facing mental health challenges and trauma. He served fifty years helping kids with limited access to mental health resources, filling his weeks working in underserved schools while meeting private clients at the end of the day. He found many treasured colleagues who shared his compassion and commitment to make a difference. And make a difference they did.
To persevere in the important work of being a husband, father and psychiatrist, Manny developed an ability for play. Saturday nights were for the neighborhood tennis league with Manny and Kathy enjoying the rallies. Fourth of July Pig Roasts, boat rides and fancy dinner celebrations with the Grand Rapids Filipino community brought many opportunities for loud laughter and storytelling. As an avid UM Wolverine fan, he and his neighbor Tom would bet dinner on the outcome of the UM vs Ohio State game. Now Manny is arriving home, anticipating four dinners’ worth of payoff from Tom for the last four years of Michigan wins.
Manny relentlessly pursued God at church, through books, on retreats and participating with spiritual groups finding joy and encouragement there, especially after the death of his beloved, Kathy. Visitors coming by would regularly find him practicing contemplative prayer with his ZOOM group, as well as, discussing with his Book-Group-Bros the mystical faith implications of the likes of Meister Eckhart, Richard Rohr and Thomas Merton.
We remember his life of service, love and compassion with visitation at O’Brien-Eggebeen-Gerst Funeral Home, 3980 Cascade Road SE, Grand Rapids, MI on Wednesday, April 30 from 5 pm-7:30 pm. You may also join us on Thursday, May 1 at 10am for visitation and 11am for the Mass of Christian Burial at St. Robert of Newminster Parish, 6477 Ada Dr. SE, Ada, MI.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation to one of Manny’s guiding passions in his life: supporting the spiritual journey and the flourishing of children. Manny was a long-time partner with the Franciscan Life Process Center in its efforts to bring dignity and hope to the sacred process of all life. He also found joy in supporting San Juan Diego Academy and their commitment to helping students believe, “¡Si Se Puede!” as well as feeding our future through Kids’ Food Basket.
Ashes will be interred at Ada Cemetery in a private ceremony at a future date.
14 Responses
Our prayers for your family,Manny and Vic had been friends since medical school.
All our prayers from aunt Faye’s (I mean Kathy’s) old homestead in Kansas. We were so blessed by Manny’s smile, love and laughter on many of our family gatherings. He was truly a blessing from a tiny island in the Pacific upon the McGlynn clan. You will so be missed. Well done good and faithful servant.
Greg McGlynn and family
The Bacolors from Ann Arbor to St. Joseph all send love and sympathy to the entire Tendero family.
Dear Cristina, Maria, Tony (and families),
As I said to Cristina upon learning of your dearest dad’s passing, saying “I’m sorry” feels wrong, as it doesn’t adequately express what is in our hearts. I always thought it interesting that, in Spanish, this saying is “Lo siento” which, literally, translates to “I feel it”.
I can only imagine your parents leaping into each other’s arms. Such bliss. Still, we are here on earth which, never, will be the same- and I feel it.
With love and deepest sympathy,
Di (Abood) Alderton
I smiled many times while reading this beautiful memorial. I know ‘Manny’ will be forever missed. I pray peace and comfort surround the bereaved in this difficult time, and in years to come.
I have been privileged to share in our mutual journey to discover our mystical identities through book discussions of the mystics and other spiritual writers. Manny’s usual quiet and contemplative demeanor would sometimes break forth with some pearls of wisdom that deeply enriched our time together. I, and countless others, will miss his physical presence…but we know that a spiritual life as deep as his…will never die.
With loving gratitude for being a friend of Manny…
Fr. Joachim Lally, CSP
What an amazing life of service, family, and faith your dad lived. We send our deepest sympathies as you say goodbye and will pray the beautiful memories of your dad will carry you through in the days to come. All our love, Lori and Reid Erickson
As a professional in the same field, I first came to know Manny through his reputation as a kind, caring, compassionate and excellent child psychiatrist. I had the gift of also getting to know Manny better through our “book-group-brothers” where I found him to be a very kind, respectful, insightful and gentle man who manifested a deep, scholarly thoughtfulness, based in broad knowledge and deep faith and loving manner.
Manny always perked up when asked about his children, and would talk about them expressing love for and pride in them.
Manny had an amazing life and impacted so many others. Prayers will continue for all his loved ones as you mourn his loss and celebrate his past life, and know his eternal life with his loving Lord.
My sympathy to the entire family . . . But especially for Cristina who I work with at RPS. It’s a hard thing, to lose your Dad. I see mine on the garden tractor every time I start it. I see him in the mirror. I hear him humming to the dog. I’m getting old and still am learning from mine. I know you’ll keep him in your heart . . . Don’t let him go!!
Our deepest sympathy to all on the passing of dear Manny. We have fond memories of him.
Lois, John and Guy Lombardo
My deepest sympathies at the passing of your dear, kind and gentle father. I was privileged to befriend him, and your mother, while we were active at SRN. May they rest in the peace of Lord and Savior and may that same peace and comfort be with all of you at this difficult time.
Dear Tendero Family Members,
Please know of our prayers and support at the death and entrance into Heaven of your Father. He was a most wonderful person and I knew him as a child psychiatrist in my early work as a clinical counselor.
Thank you all of sharing him with so many who benefited from his giftedness.
Dr. Tendero was a core memory of my childhood. We children of Treeline Drive were so blessed to know him. To Tony, Maria, and Cristina, Thank you for sharing your parents with us. Our hearts and prayers are with your entire family. We often tell stories of our childhoods including all of you.
As Manny’s barber for the last decade I learned so many great lessons from an amazingly faithful man.
Manny was one of the kindest humans I have ever met and I will miss our monthly chats very much.
That cowlick taught me so many lessons as a barber and I will be forever grateful for every single lesson Manny taught me either through allowing me to cut his hair or just sharing life, and who can forget that smile!
Enjoy your rest friend and have a dance for me.