Mann was born on June 22, 1935 in Chicago. His nickname was "Snooks," after the 1940s radio program The Baby Snooks Show. His family had owned a stone quarry in Hungary, so Mann worked as a stonecutter in his father's stone yard. He also attended the Culinary Arts Institute in Chicago.

He then moved to California with his wife, Jeanne, and their seven children. In the 1960s, Mann began helping out failing restaurants and bringing them back into the black. Later, he was part-owner, manager and executive chef at the Oktoberfest-themed Zinzinnati Oom Pah Pah restaurant in Palo Alto.

Mann also created a recipe for apple strudel that he sold to restaurants all over the Bay Area.

In addition, Mann served as a construction superintendent and was a dedicated outdoorsman and fisherman. He also enjoyed spending time with his 13 grandchildren.

Memorial services will be on April 2 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Church, 528 Hope St. in Mountain View. A celebration of his life follows at Faz Restaurant, at 1108 N. Mathilda Ave. in Sunnyvale.