Manuel R. Papoula, 80, of Fall River, passed away peacefully in the comforts of his home on Wednesday, May 8, 2024.  Born in Fall River, he was the son of the late Manuel R. Papoula, Sr. and the late Virginia F. (Ferreira) Papoula.

Manny was awarded a full scholarship to Boston College where he was coached by Bob Cousy (Boston Celtics' legendary guard and N.B.A. Hall of Famer).  After graduating with a mathematics major from B.C. and while teaching, he earned his Master's Degree in Education.  Prior to his retirement he was a dedicated teacher for thirty years and was selected as teacher of the year in New Jersey by the New Jersey Society of Professional Engineers.  This ceremony was a "tuxedo" event which was held in Atlantic City.  While Vice-President of his class and Sports Editor at Durfee, Manny played on the soccer team in the fall, basketball team in the winter, and baseball team in the spring.  He was goalie on his soccer team, center in basketball, and played first base and pitcher for his baseball team.  In soccer he let one goal in in two years.  The 6'4" "Legend" achieved many accomplishments over his lifetime.  For three years he was selected for Who's Who Among America's Teachers.  He was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame at the DCU Center (originally Centrum Convention Center) in Worcester.  He was inducted into the Fall River Men's Softball Hall of Fame.  He was also inducted into the Durfee Athletics Hall of Fame and then served on the board researching and determining future inductees.  In 2017 he was awarded the MA Association of School Committee's "Friends of Education" Award.  Also in 2017, the basketball court at Ruggles Park was dedicated and named after Manny Papoula, acknowledging his countless hours of volunteer time and generosity he provided to the Fall River community.

Manny established and funded the Skip Karam Scholarships, given annually to Durfee's highest academically ranking senior boy and girl basketball players.  He also established and funded the Tony La Cava Scholarship for players for the Columbus Park Independent Baseball League.  Manny also gave scholarships to students he had helped earn their G.E.D. (high school equivalency) at SER-Jobs for Progress, where he volunteered his tutoring skills for twenty-five years.  He quietly gave very substantial donations to the Fall River Boys Club.  Generous with both his time and money, Manny would several times a year replace/fix the basketball nets of the thirty or so basketball courts throughout the city.

He spent many hours at the Fall River Public Library researching the history of Durfee boys basketball going back to the early twentieth century which led to him writing an extensive Durfee basketball reference.  Speaking of Manny, Skip Karam said, "He was excellent. He was easy to coach. He played hard every day.  He was one of the nicest guys I had." Beyond his athletic prowess, he was a caring, kind person who never forgot where he came from and was always ready to extend a hand to those in need.  "His work as a teacher was outstanding.  Did much and always with profound humility" said former Fall River School Committee member Ed Costar, who grew up with Papoula.  As a math team coach in New Jersey, he was able to guide his students to win numerous trophies for his school and even compete at the national level in Washington, D.C.

He leaves his loving and devoted sister, Linda Owens, of Fall River and many, many friends.  Tom Pasternak, pharmacist of Walsh Pharmacy, was a student at Durfee while Manny was there.  He said "at Durfee EVERYBODY liked Manny".

His Funeral Mass was celebrated on Friday May 17th, in St. Anthony of Padua Church followed by his committal at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Family members are always grateful for relatives and friends wishing to make in-person expressions of kindness and support. If you were unable to do so, because of health concerns or any other reason, all are urged to express their sympathy online or by mail. To ensure that said condolences and/or sympathy cards reach the family, please always make sure that submissions online are made directly through the funeral home's website (www.silvafaria.com) and not through a third party. Thank you!