The following appeared in the Boston Globe on March 4, 1987:
OBITIARIES
Louis Manzo, owned hotel supply firm, longtime Yankee fan;81
By Jack Thomas, Boston Globe Staff
It happened 25 years ago, and with the passage of time, the memory becomes more precious.
It was Oct. 3, 1962, a Wednesday, and it was misty that morning when Louis Manzo, a butcher, awoke his son. "You're not going to school today, David," he said. "We're going to the World Series.
But the dream turned damp.
After they had driven three hours to New York, and after they had sat in the stands in back of first base for more than an hour, hoping the rain would stop, the game was canceled. Fearful, his mother would not permit him to miss school again, David's mood became as gray as the Manhattan skyline.
"Don't worry," said the father. "We'll be back tomorrow."
After considerable persuasion, David's mother relended, and the next day, the father and son made the journey to Yankee Stadium a second time, and cheered heartily as Tom Tresh hit a three-run homer in the eight to beat the Giants.
Life has its rhythms.
Fifteen years later, after a two-year renovation of Yankee Stadium, David, then 22, and living in Boston, wrangled tickets for opening day, right in back of first base, where his father liked to sit, and the two of them cheered together again as the Yankees defeated the Minnesota Twins, 11-4.
That night David slept at the home of his parents in Waterbury. On his bed, he found an envelope with the stub of the ticket, which hs has saved, because on it, his father had written, "Thanks for one of the best days of my life."
The Yankees lost a loyal fan yesterday when Louis G. Manzo died of cancer in his home in Waterbury, Conn. He was 81.
A lifelong resident of Waterbury, he owned the Quality Hotel and Restaurant Supply Co., a wholesale supplier of meats.
A member of Elks Lodge No. 265, he was 1975 Elk of the Year.
But it was to baseball to which Mr. Manzo devoted his time.
From 1932 to 1964, he attended at least one game in each of the 22 years the Yankees competed in the World Series.
Despite a diagnosis of cancer nearly three years ago, Mr. Manzo made the trip to Florida for spring training, having arranged in advance for chemotherapy in Florida.
Mr. Manzo was a player, too. From 1928 to 1930, he was the captain of the South End Bearcats, amateur football champions, and he was also an outfielder, and played softball Sunday mornings at Brooklyn playground until he decided to retire at age 50.
Mr. Manzo's favorite tie was a blue and white pin-stripe with the insignia of the Yankees. Knowing that 1986 would be his last opportunity to attend spring training. Mr. Manzo attended at least one game nearly every day, and sometimes two and even three games.
