Manuel Ponce De Leon Andres "Andy"

Manuel Ponce de Leon Andres, known to family and friends as “Andy”, passed away on October 12, 2018, at the age of 82. He passed peacefully and comfortably, with his wife, children, and two oldest grandsons at his side.

Andy was born on June 20th, 1936, in Inagawan, on the island of Palawan, in the Philippines. He was the second child of six, and oldest son to Rosita Ray Ponce de Leon and Pascual Natividad Andres. His Filipino nickname was “Noly”, and he would grow up in Iwahig, also on Palawan. He was a graduate of Holy Trinity Junior College.

In 1957, at age 21, Andy joined the U.S. Navy and left the Philippines. He came to the United States and was eventually stationed at the US Naval Academy, in Annapolis, Maryland. After two years, he was transferred to Norfolk, Virginia, where he served on the USS Hummingbird, a Bluebird class minesweeper. Then aboard the USS Cony, a Fletcher-class destroyer, which was deployed to the Atlantic theater during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962.

In 1963, he returned to Annapolis and would frequently visit Baltimore with friends. There, at the China Doll restaurant, he came to meet his future wife, Pamela Jeanne Gill, a nursing student from Towson, Maryland. The two were married on December 2, 1964. Their first son, Robert, was born in 1965.

In the fall of 1966, Andy was transferred back to Norfolk, where he was assigned to the USS Pocono, an Adirondack class amphibious force command ship. Their second son, Edward, was born in 1967.

In 1968, after 10 years of service, Andy considered leaving the Navy, but instead went to work at the Pentagon, under the Secretary of Defense. The family moved to Washington, DC, and their third child, daughter Rachel, was born in 1971.

Andy and Pam bought their first home in 1972, in Bryans Road, Maryland, where they lived for 17 years. In 1977, Andy retired from the Navy, having served 20 years and earning the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He spent the next 27 years in a career in engineering, working for the federal government. In May of 1989, Andy and Pam moved to Jacksonville, Florida, and Andy worked at the Mayport Naval Station, until he retired in 2004, at the age of 67.

Andy and Pam were married for 53 years. In addition to his devoted wife, he is survived by his three children, Rob, Ed (Desma), and Rachel, grandchildren, Tyler, Robbie, Claire, Alexa, Will, Liam and Colin, and siblings, Angela, Pascual Jr., Victoria, José, and Milagros, as well as many beloved nieces and nephews. He was a member of the Filipino American Veterans Association, loved fishing, travel, repairing things, and many hands on projects. He also loved to barbecue and cook steamed crabs.

He was a man of great faith, and, more than anything else, deeply loved his wife and family, both in the U.S., and in the Philippines. He could always be counted on for help and support whenever possible.

Andy never wanted to be remembered in sadness, but rather celebrated for a life well lived. His humor, smile, and love will be remembered, as his spirit continues to move among us always.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Holy Spirit Catholic Church Family Life Center, where Andy was a parish member for 29 years. Checks can be mailed to 11665 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32225. The family would also like to express their deepest gratitude to the doctors and nurses of the Mayo Clinic, who provided him with excellent care and respect in his final days.