[3] Manzella grew up on his parents' grape farm in Portland, Chautauqua County, New York, where he attended Brocton Central School.
[5] Manzella came out on American news program 60 Minutes in 2007,[1][6] the first openly gay service member on active duty to speak to the press from a war zone.
Immediately following the repeal of DADT, Manzella enlisted into the New York Army National Guard and was promoted and awarded for his meritorious service.
[8] In August 2011, Manzella returned to Rochester and began working as a health science specialist for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
[5][9] On August 29, 2013, Manzella was killed when the driver of an SUV hit him as he was in the act of pushing his disabled vehicle off the road in Pittsford, Monroe County, New York.