http://archive.southcoasttoday.com/daily/05-99/05-08-99/zzzddobi.htm#XINDEX10 Manuel BabbittBy Manuela Da Costa-Fernandes, Standard-Times staff writer SAN QUENTIN, Calif. -- Manuel "Manny" Pina Babbitt, 50, formerly of Wareham, died by lethal injection Tuesday, May 4, 1999, at San Quentin Prison. He was the former husband of Lorraine Babbitt of Attleboro and the common-law husband of Theresa Guertin of Providence. He was the son of Josephine Santiago of Sacramento and the late Charles F. Babbitt, a native of Brava, Cape Verde. Born May 3, 1949, in Oakdale, Wareham, he was a communicant of St. Patrick's Church in Wareham. He attended Everett Elementary School and Wareham Intermediate School. His childhood hobbies included gathering shellfish and digging clams. In 1964, he went to live with one of his brothers, Charlie Babbitt, in Providence. He attended Roger Williams Junior High School. He left school in the seventh grade when he was 17. While at school, he was interested in art and geography. Mr. Babbitt was formerly employed by the A.D. Makepeace Cranberry Co. of Wareham and he also worked for a Plymouth shoe company making shoes. At age 17, he joined the Marine Corps. He was assigned to A Company, 3rd Anti-Tank Battalion, 3rd Marine Division and eventually rose to the rank of corporal. He survived the longest and bloodiest battle of the Vietnam War, the 77-day siege of Khe Sanh, where he was one of 2,000 marines wounded several times. Serving two tours of duty in Vietnam, he fought in four other major campaigns of the war and was based in Con Thien, Quang Tri and Da Nang. While in Vietnam, he saved the life of retired Detroit Police Officer Lynn Dornan. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation with palm and the Cross of Gallantry. When he returned from Vietnam, he was based at Camp LeJeune. He re-enlisted and reported for duty on the Naval Air Station in Quonset Point, R.I. In October 1975, he moved to Providence and worked for his brother, Charlie, who owned a restaurant and night club. In September 1980, he moved to Sacramento to live with another brother, Bill Babbitt. He was awarded a Purple Heart in March 1998 in San Quentin Prison. He will posthumously receive a Bronze Heart. During the 18½ years he spent in San Quentin, he sewed, wrote poetry, mastered tai chi, and perfected making Cape Verdean food, especially jag, for other Death Row inmates. He studied world religions, Greek mythology, ancient Egyptian civilizations and poet Ralph Waldo Emerson. His hobbies included reading, writing poetry and drawing, especially flowers. He was a prolific letter-writer and corresponded with about 50 pen pals in Africa, Italy, England and Holland. Recently, he worked with students from a Jesuit High School in Sacramento, who visited him in San Quentin. He spent the last days of his life comforting his family and friends who visited him in San Quentin. Survivors include his mother; two sons, Adam Babbitt of Pennsylvania and Manuel "Manny" Babbitt Jr. of Massachusetts; three daughters, Desiree Babbitt of Providence, Dawn Pezza Babbitt of Massachusetts and Jude Babbitt of Attleboro; four brothers, Steven Babbitt of North Kingston, R.I., William Babbitt of Sacramento and Charles Babbitt and Edward Babbitt of Providence; five sisters, Renee Resendes of East Providence, R.I., Pauline Babbitt of Providence and Paula Williams, Linda Thomas and Donna Kendricks, all of Sacramento; two grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. He was the close childhood friend of Phillip Gomes of Plymouth and also of his fifth-grade teacher, Beverly Lopes of Wareham. Mr. Babbitt leaves behind many close friends on San Quentin's Death Row, as well as fellow veterans of Khe Sanh and pen pals around the world. He was the brother of the late Frank Babbitt. A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Monday in St. Patrick's Church, High Street, Wareham. Arrangements are by the Stott, Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 2599 Cranberry Highway, Route 28, Wareham. |