Dear Dancing Friends: Mannie Kugler passed away Saturday, August 2, 2014.

Our beloved friend, Mannie Kugler, passed away Saturday, August 2, 2014. He passed doing one of the things he loved hanging out and reading at Pete’s Coffee in Hillcrest. He was loved by everyone that knew him in the San Diego dancing community, especially by all of us that were part of the Pattie Wells’ Dancetime Center where he attended dance classes many days weekly. He was an integral part of our lives with his smile and good humor. He was always a gentlemen in every aspect of the word. He was an example to all of us of how to live life to its fullest. He will be terribly missed and always remembered by all in the dance community and beyond by all the people whose lives he touched with his loving heart. Rest in peace Mannie, walk in your beautiful garden and dance among the stars!

(A picture of Mannie with his great smile doing what he loved, dancing)

From Meris Kugler (Mannie’s grand daughter):
Mannie passed away Saturday, August 2nd at Scripps Mercy. Prior to that he was at Pete’s Coffee in Hillcrest which was one of his favorite places to  pass his time. He went unconscious and they were unable to revive him. 

Mannie lived fully in his 92 years of life. He was the District Attorney of South Bay in the late 1950’s, Judge of the South Bay Municipal Court starting in 1961, and Judge of the San Diego Superior Court until he partially retired in 1986 and fully retired in 2002. 

He began attending Southwestern Community College in 1986. He studied almost every area of art: wood working, ceramics, sketching, and finally in 2001 he began working on his famous abstract paintings. He produced over 150 paintings since then and has held art shows all over San Diego, including Southwestern College and the San Diego Museum of Art. 

Mannie was also an advocate for the Sierra Club and was the emcee for the San Diego Chapter Program series up until 2012. He was Lead Usher at the Old Globe and Cassius Carter for at least a decade. He enjoyed ballroom dancing every night ranging from the Waltz, Cha-Cha, Tango, Jitterbug, West Coast Swing, and more [at the Pattie Wells’ Dancetime Center]. Mannie also maintained a community garden plot in San Diego where he enjoyed growing his own produce and plants for over 20 years. 

(Mannie Kugler talking with Lucky Pahl at a DanceTime Center event)

In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests that donations go to benefit families in need, in his honor via:

First UU Church of San Diego – 4190 Front St, San Diego, CA 92103
Memo: Minister’s Discretionary Fund

Mannie Kugler’s Service & Reception: will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 16th at the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego located at 4190 Front St, San Diego, CA 92103

Rest In Peace Mannie Kugler!