Obituary of Bob Manning

Garnet Lake

Robert (“Bob”) E. Manning, 88, of Garnet Lake, NY, passed away Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2023. 

Bob was born July 25, 1935 to Clarence and Janette Manning in Endicott, NY.  He grew up in Vestal, NY, and loved exploring the creek nearby and the woods beyond.  His interest in the natural world grew through scout camping trips to the Adirondacks. Graduating from Vestal Central High School in 1953, he went on to the State University of New York College of Forestry (now College of Environmental Science and Forestry) in Syracuse, NY, where several courses included lengthy field trips into Adirondack forests.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry, he moved on to Officer Candidate School in Rhode Island, becoming commissioned as an officer in the US Navy. Bob served as a communications officer on the USS Ponchatoula, a US Navy Fleet Oiler based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, that toured across the Pacific Ocean, and fueled US Navy ships during the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis of 1958.  In 1960, Bob met Tomoko in Yokosuka, Japan. They married later that year, and he became a MAAG-Japan Navy liaison to the US Embassy in Tokyo. In 1962, after transferring to Naval Station Treasure Island, Bob was honorably discharged. 

At SUNY Albany, Bob pursued a master's in Education, acquiring his biology teaching certificate in 1963, while Tomoko gave birth to their son Carl. After teaching life science for several years in Rockland County, NY, and following the birth of son Ted, the family moved back to Japan.  Bob taught for the U.S. Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS), first from 1968 to 1973 at Johnson Air Base outside Tokyo, during which son Bill was born, and then at Misawa Air Base in northern Japan. Bob brought his enthusiasm to new curricula in junior-high life science, then Intermediate Science Curriculum Studies (ISCS), then high school computer science, and mentored science fair competitors.  An avid runner, he coached the Edgren High School cross-country and track teams, and ran in road races with his sons.  He enjoyed hiking with Tomoko, and developed a passion for downhill skiing in the winter.  Throughout his years in DoDDs, on summer vacation trips returning to New York he spent time in the Adirondacks, eventually buying a house on Garnet Lake.  After 29 years teaching with DoDDs in Japan, Bob retired in 1997.

Bob & Tomoko retired to Garnet Lake, where they converted their summer house to a year-round home.  They hiked with the WAWAPAW hiking club ("Wet and Wild a Peak a Week"), and he skied with the Backwoods Ski Club.  Before long, Bob pursued his first passion for diverse mixed wood forests, acquiring land on Oven Mountain, near North Creek, NY.  In addition to managing his forest and making trails to the overlooks, he contributed his time and photography, volunteering with the New York Forest Owners Association - Southeastern Adirondack Chapter, Friends of Johnsburg Parks, and fighting invasive knotweed with NoKnotweed.org. Perhaps Bob's final passion was with the Garnet Lake Conservation Association, where he contributed research and photographs to a book on local history (A Gem of the Adirondacks: Garnet Lake), as well as served on the board and committee searching for a safe and affordable upgrade to save the Garnet Lake dam.

Bob is survived by his wife Tomoko; sons Carl, Ted (Nancy), and William ("Bill"); 4 grandchildren; sister Marguerite ("Peggy") Lilly; and brother Charles ("Chuck" & Barbara).

A memorial will be held at a later date at the convenience of the family.

At Bob's request, there are no calling hours scheduled.

Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book and condolences.