Former Accountant and Mountainside Resident.
John A. Manger died peacefully on January 20, 2013, at age 96. Born in Newark, NJ, and raised in Belleville, John and his late wife, Ruth Davis Manger, lived in Cranford and Mountainside, before retiring to Hilton Head, SC. John lived in Fort Myers, FL, since 2001.
The first in his family to attend college, John was a 1938 Phi Beta Kappa honors graduate of Rutgers University. He worked his way through college by playing the trumpet in dance bands. At Rutgers, John met Ruth Davis, a Douglass College chemistry major. They married in 1940, and their partnership lasted until Ruth’s death in 1995. John and Ruth operated a public accounting practice in Cranford, NJ, from 1943 until their retirement in 1978.
John and Ruth loved to travel, visiting dozens of countries throughout Europe, Asia and South America. They were among the first American tourists to visit China, just days after travel was opened to Americans following President Nixon’s historic visit.
John was an avid tennis player, both in high school and college and during his working years. In his retirement he was a ranked senior player in South Carolina.
John is survived by his two children, Nancy Manger Brail (and her husband, Richard), a retired teacher and family therapist, and J. Anthony Manger, a healthcare attorney. He is also survived by four loving grandchildren, Gregory Brail (and his wife, Linda Henigin), Samantha Brail, Jeremy Manger (and his wife, Amanda) and Jonathan Manger, and by three great-grandchildren, William Jonathan Henigin Brail, Jake Orlando Manger and Sydney Rose Manger. He also leaves behind his dear friend of the last thirteen years, Lila Williamson of Fort Myers.
A celebration of John’s life is being planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that friends and family instead consider making a donation in John’s memory to:
The Union County College Foundation
1033 Springfield Avenue
Cranford, NJ 07016
Or
Midland Adult Services
P.O. Box 5026
North Branch, NJ 07016
or to the charity of their choice.