San Antonio Man Remembered as Community Pillar

The death of 84-year-old Manuel Gomez Mendez Jr. has been described as a significant loss for the San Antonio community. His body was discovered Saturday morning after a fire was reported along Rigsby Avenue, near Roland Road.

Details of the Discovery

Passersby alerted 911 after noticing a grass fire. San Antonio firefighters responding to the scene discovered a body engulfed in flames. Homicide investigators were immediately called to the location.

According to a San Antonio Police Department report, Mendez’s hands were bound, and his body was wrapped in a jacket and a shower curtain.

A Life Dedicated to Service

Friends and acquaintances remember Mendez as a dedicated volunteer and a compassionate individual. He spent years tirelessly working within the community, particularly through the charity HIS BridgeBuilders, run by Fechner and his family.

“A Roving Good Samaritan”

“He made a big difference in a lot of people’s lives, mine included,” said Fechner. “Always being with God’s people, doing the work of God, to love God and love his neighbors.”

Fechner described Mendez as someone who consistently went above and beyond to assist others, providing necessities like food, clothing, medical assistance, and housing. “Like a roving good Samaritan, you know, just out looking for people to befriend and see how he could help them out,” he added.

Impact on Individuals

One resident, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that she had been renting a home from Mendez for the past five months after first meeting him in 2020. Speaking in Spanish, she described him as a kind and reliable person who regularly checked on her well-being.

She expressed a strong desire for justice and for the perpetrator to be apprehended.

Legacy of Kindness

“Teddy Roosevelt said, ‘Walk softly and carry a big stick.’ Manny walked softly and carried a big heart,” Fechner remarked. “There’s not many guys like that. He’s the only one I knew.”

Mendez was also actively involved with A Gathering Place, a church located on Arthur Street. He is survived by two sons.

Reporting by Katrina Webber, KSAT 12