Manuel Philip Berríozábal passed peacefully to his Reward in Glory in the early hours of April 15, 2026 in the arms of his beloved wife, Maria Antonietta Berríozábal.  For several years, he dealt with dementia Alzheimer's, with the same courage that he lived his whole life, meeting challenges head on.  Despite a difficult illness, he remained kind and patient with all those around him until the end. Manuel was born at Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas on July 12, 1931 to Manuel Berríozábal and Emma Louise Wand. He was baptized at St. Cecilia's Catholic Church.  His father came to the United States from Durango, Mexico in 1910. His mother was of German descent. His family moved to Independence, Missouri when he was one year old. He spent his very early years living in the home of his immigrant grandparents, Philip and Matilde Wand, who introduced him to the traditions, language, songs and music of the German culture. By the time he entered St. Ann Catholic Elementary School in Independence, Manuel, his parents and his only sibling, Dolores, "Lola", were living in their own home. Their neighborhood was full of children and the street and vacant lots were the best playgrounds. Collecting metal for the War, selling it and going to the movies with the income was a great way to spend a Saturday.

Early on, Manuel felt he could not excel in sports and made up his mind to excel in his studies. A very studious and well behaved child, he made straight A's in all his subjects from a very early age. By the time he was about nine, he started working at the neighborhood grocery store, measuring 5 lb. bags of potatoes. Making and serving ice cream sodas and doing other chores at the local pharmacy followed.  He would continue working after school, on weekends and during summer vacations all during his educational life, until he gained full time employment when he completed his Ph.D. studies. Though neither of his parents went to college, they impressed upon him the importance of learning and making the most of educational opportunities. He was the first person in his family to attend college. The structure and organization of mathematics appealed to him at a young age. He would say that he was not a gifted student and had to work hard in school. Through the encouragement of a seventh-grade teacher, Sister Mary James at St. Ann's, he excelled in mathematics. She prepared a group of promising mathematics students, of which he was one, for a scholarship competition at De La Salle Military Academy. Under her tutelage, he won a scholarship to the academy, where he was able to take more mathematics courses. It was there that he discovered that "the logical thinking necessary to do mathematics not only applied to mathematics; it was a method of problem solving that can be applied to every aspect of life, making humans no longer the victims of blind faith, fate, or memorized patterns."  The Christian brothers were challenging teachers. The school maintained a reputation for training young men for business careers but adapted its curriculum during World War II to include advanced courses such as Aeronautics. Manuel then attended college at Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Missouri, where he studied mathematics, earning his B.S. degree in 1952. Father William C. Doyle, a professor at Rockhurst, urged him to continue mathematical studies.

He began graduate studies at Notre Dame University in 1952, which were interrupted with a tour in the Army. During the Korean War, his mathematical skills had him writing programs for the first computers used by the military. At the time, computers were actually rooms that one would enter. After completing his military duty, he went back to Notre Dame and completed his master's degree in mathematics in 1956. Notre Dame had a profound influence throughout his life. Until his late 80's, in San Antonio, Manuel was a faithful member of the Notre Dame Club. His Notre Dame cap was his mainstay. Notre Dame professor of mathematics, Arnold Ross, was a primary mentor in Manuel's life. It was Dr. Ross who suggested that Manuel get his Ph.D, though Manuel was at first hesitant. Dr. Ross assisted in the process and their significant friendship continued until Ross died in his late 90's. From 1957 to 1959, Manuel taught at what is now Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. In 1961, he earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), where he wrote his dissertation on topology. After completing his Ph.D., he taught at UCLA, Tulane University and the University of New Orleans. His particular research interest in mathematics was general topology, which includes the abstract study of mathematical properties like limits and continuity, ideas one would encounter in calculus. Over the years he authored or co-authored papers in this area which appeared in well-known mathematical journals and which have been cited by other researchers in this area.

In New Orleans Manuel was an active member of his parish of Our Lady of the Rosary as lector, member of St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Newman Center, the mariachi choir of Santa Teresa de Avila, the New Orleans Yacht Club and the New Orleans Concert Choir. He also was active in Project SER and a Good Government progressive group. Manuel created STEM programs before the acronym was used. There was some criticism that he selected bright students instead of serving students who were at risk of dropping out of school. He felt, however, that there were very good students, particularly in minority groups, who were being lost because they were not challenged.  In New Orleans he began to work on and create pre-college programs in mathematics, understanding that the path to college, particularly for minorities, had to start before students entered college. He organized the Cooperative Pre-College Mathematics Program at the Louisiana State University in New Orleans (now the University of New Orleans). This federally funded initiative was designed to improve the quality of mathematics instruction in inner-city schools by providing advanced training to teachers. A key feature of the program was the appointment of approximately 20 fellows each session to engage in intensive mathematical studies. The program aimed to equip educators with modern mathematical concepts and pedagogical techniques specifically tailored for urban environment. At the time, the fellows in New Orleans were mainly African American teachers. The program operated out of the LSU New Orleans Department of Mathematics during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sadly, a university in the South was not ready for this type of program. After some time, the University did not accept the federal funds for the program.

In 1976, Manuel joined the faculty at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA). His journey to UTSA had an extra and significant benefit. It would be on one of his trips to San Antonio, in pursuit of a position at that university, that he met the love of his life, Maria Antonietta Rodriguez. Maria was, by then, making her mark in the civic, social and political life in San Antonio.  It was at an archdiocesan meeting organized by Archbishop Patrick Flores that they met. Manuel was invited by Jesuit priest Edmundo Rodriguez and Maria was invited by her pastor, Father Lawrence Matula, to the meeting. It was the first day of spring of 1972. By that evening, each would know that one day they would marry. Manuel and Maria were married at Christ the King Church in San Antonio on August 9, 1975. From then on, they were a powerful team, extending loving service to their San Antonio community and beyond for nearly 51 years. In Maria's work in elected public service Manuel was her strong personal and professional support that made it possible for her to pave new roads for women and their families. During the first nine months of their marriage, Manuel and Maria lived in New Orleans where Manuel was teaching.  In the summer of 1976 Manuel got his position at UTSA and both returned home.  Over the years Manuel was active at St. Ann's Parish helping organize the first mariachi choir, as lector, member of the Parish Council and the Finance Council. He was also a Knight of Columbus and was invited by Archbishop Flores to join the Knights of St. Gregory.

Manuel would say that being a professor was not just about doing research. He was also a teacher and very interested in helping others become educated, especially minorities and women. At UTSA, he noticed that very few minorities were completing studies in mathematics and the sciences. He felt that something needed to be done to increase this number. In 1979, he founded the Pre-freshman Engineering Program (PREP) at UTSA with help from other colleges and universities, and the U.S. Department of Energy. PREP is a mathematics-based academic enrichment program. At the time, it ran for eight weeks during the summer, aimed at middle and high school students. Students learned about mathematics, logical thinking, abstract reasoning, computer science, and the mathematical sciences. The idea for the program was initially disparaged because it was thought that pre-college students wouldn't want to devote their summer to studying mathematics and science. In November of 1979, a San Antonio magazine published a feature story about UTSA in which an anonymous member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board expressed his opposition to approving an engineering program at UTSA. He stated, "The Mexican American community is not where engineers come from anyway." Manuel took these words as an insult to both "our community and me," but he also viewed them as a challenge for both PREP and him.  PREP became very successful, and at one point was replicated as the Texas Pre-freshman Engineering Program (TexPREP) on 25 college campuses in 15 Texas cities, and as Proyecto Access on 9 college campuses in 8 states outside of Texas. Recently, it was reported in local media that over 50,000 Texas students, many from Hispanic and low income families, have participated in PREP. This does not include others who have attended or are attending PREP programs in other states.  Manuel was quoted as saying: "PREP has been an overwhelming success where it has been initiated. It has helped minority and women students achieve a new level of competence in mathematics and the sciences and has given them the tools and the confidence to go on to college and earn degrees in science, mathematics and engineering. The PREP program and I have received numerous awards and citations. For example, in 1997 San Antonio PREP received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring. In 1998, PREP was designated a La Promesa de un Futuro Brillante Program by the National Latino Children's Institute." Manuel, as founder, and the PREP programs, received many awards. In 1994, Manuel received the Hispanic Heritage Award in Education. In 2000, he was inducted as Charter Member into the Texas Science Hall of Fame along with four astronauts and four Nobel Laureates.

Although, at the beginning of his work with PREP, he was discouraged by the national professional math leadership in mathematics for concentrating on pre-college programs, in 2000, he received the most prestigious award of the Mathematical Association of America, the Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award for Distinguished Service to Mathematics. Not by choice, Manuel left the leadership of San Antonio PREP, Tex-PREP and Projecto Access on its 25th birthday. In 2001, Dr. Rudy Reyna directed the programs until 2012. Manuel continued his connection with the local program by creating PhD PREP.  He invited top PREP students, who had completed four years of PREP, to take the advanced courses during the summer that mathematics majors had to take. These were Fundamentals of Analysis or Fundamentals of Mathematics. The PREP students were successful in those courses and at times even better than the college students. His wish was that these PREP students would have a free ride from PREP to a PhD in STEM at UTSA. While PhD PREP never took hold, Manuel kept that course as his last teaching class until his retirement in 2018. He then had 40 years of teaching at UTSA and 59 years of teaching mathematics at all levels.

The common thread throughout Manuel's life was living his Faith in his work, in his daily life and in his treatment of others.  Not one to talk about himself, he was a man of great compassion who was very generous with his time and other gifts.  No one fully knew how many students he helped in tough times; whether it was helping students get to their college journey in various ways or showing up at 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning to give an exam to a student mom, whose baby had gotten sick at the regular time of the exam. No one will really know all he did simply because he felt it was the right thing to do. Manuel was a lover of music. He loved classical music and he reveled in 60's hits. In New Orleans he became a connoisseur of food and with Maria, he loved to explore new places to eat….but without extravagance. Anybody who knew him knew that he loved ice cream. He was a daily jogger and participated in special runs. For several years he received medals as the oldest runner finishing a race. After Maria's stint on the City Council in 1991, both would travel during the summer.  Manuel was always the tour guide, using AAA books to get his bearings.  With his knowledge of German and Maria's ability in Spanish they explored his German ancestry in Germany and looked for his Spanish/Mexican roots in Spain. They also traveled through Mexico several times. Maps and travel books were all he needed to create a pleasant and exiting vacation. He and Maria were very devoted to each other, and each was an anchor for the other in their chosen vocation. While a pursuit in education and another in politics could be said to be different, in their marriage, they were one. For both, their community was a powerful unifying factor. Manuel was proud to say: "I am preparing the children for the future and Maria is paving the way."

At the same time there was also furor at the sight of injustice. He was never afraid to speak truth to power when the need arose. His work paving new roads in education was challenging. He did not always have the support he needed; yet, he kept moving. It was the students, the young workers around him and his community that mattered and were his motivation. Each summer he would visit all the PREP sites throughout the US. His last words were the same year after year. The first year students were rising sixth graders and they were included in this charge which was his philosophy of life and the reason for the program.  "It will take a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment to become a leader.  I am sure that some of you may have friends who ridicule your efforts to make something of yourself.  As a result, find friends who support you in the pursuit of your goals.  Along the way to becoming a successful leader, it is important to realize that the acquisition of power should not be an end in itself but a means to responsibly serve others. In your own conduct, I continue to urge you to avoid mediocrity and strive for personal and professional excellence. I wish each of you continuing success in the future."   Manuel's hope was the promise that young people hold for creating a better world.

Manuel was preceded in death by his father Manuel Berríozábal, his wife Billie; his mother Emma Louise Schneider and her husband, Louis; his sister Dolores Miller.

He is survived by his loving wife, Maria Antonietta Rodriguez Berríozábal, niece, Charlene Sherman of Independence, Mo., and niece Diana Taylor and her son John Ross of Lee's Summit, Mo.; two nephews once removed, John Morrison and James Morrison of New Jersey and their families.   He is also survived by the entire family of his wife Maria Antonietta.

Funeral Services:

Thursday, April 30th, 2026

Public Visitation 4:00pm to 8:00pm

Eulogy at 6:30pm

The Angelus Funeral Home Chapel

Friday, May 1st, 2026

St. Ann's Catholic Church located at 210 St. Ann St.

9:00am Viewing

10:00am Rosary

11:00am Funeral Mass

Burial to follow in Resurrection Cemetery at the Cordi-Marian Villa,

11624 Culebra Rd., San Antonio, TX

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to

St. Ann Catholic Church and the

Manuel P. Berriozabal Prefreshmen Engineering Program at

the University of Texas San Antonio