Dan Manlongat Fund for Memorial and Scholarship

It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of my dad, Dan Manlongat. No one loved life more than my dad; he was so full of love, compassion, and generosity. He offered his love to everyone he knew, and his loss has left us with inexpressible sorrow.

With the news of his unexpected passing this past week, my family has been mourning the loss of a husband, dad, son, friend, and role model. My dad was an integral and passionate part of many communities throughout his life, working as an architecture professor for the New School of Architecture, a coach for the Academy of Our Lady of Peace Varsity Tennis Team, and as a pillar of strength and comfort for his friends and family. He loved teaching and connecting with his students and team and was always willing to extend his support and enthusiasm. He loved his tennis team like his own daughters and supported his architecture students not only as a mentor, but as their biggest fans.

My dad had many goals for his life and had accomplished so many successes. He was a proud alumnus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and continued his architecture career as an even prouder professor at New School. He knew nearly every song by Billy Joel, loved cooking my grandma’s recipes, knew the “O Captain, My Captain” scene in Dead Poet’s Society by heart, and knew the master formula for the perfect backhand swing. He wanted to finish 365 watercolor portraits by the end of 2024, see the OLP tennis team win CIF championships, and see his students and my own college graduation in June. He was always starting a new book, enjoying a sunny day painting at Mission Bay, meeting his friends for tennis on Sundays, and so much more.

We have been met with such warmth and support upon sharing the devastating news of his passing with those who knew him. Hearing about his playfulness, energy, and gregarious nature has enlightened a truth we have always known---he touched the lives of every person he met. My dad has been an endless source of knowledge, unwavering trust, constant strength, generosity, and has been my biggest supporter throughout my whole life. I can only begin to imagine the love felt by his communities and I am confident his impact will continue to thread those who knew him together for years and years to come.

We invite our community to help us in establishing a memorial fund in Dan’s honor. This fund will contribute to our memorial for him, commemorating the wonderful person he was and bringing together all the people he loved and held close to his heart. He was a social butterfly, loved connecting with others, and his life has offered so much to celebrate: it seems only fitting to honor him with exactly that, a celebration of life. We are also hoping to establish a scholarship in his name, a scholarship that will honor the lasting support and protection he has left us in wake of his passing and further the education of students for years to come. This fund will serve as a celebration and homage to his unforgettable spirit, joy, and love. Thank you so much for all of the support we have received during this time, it has been invaluable to my family. We extend our love to you all.