John Stuart Manning, 69, much-loved husband, brother, and cherished friend, entered eternal peace on April 5, in New Haven.
John was born June 11, 1952 in Lancaster, PA to George and Norinne (“Nicki”) Manning; and has lived in Salem County, NJ, Greenwich (Cos Cob), and the past 40+ years in Shelton.
A fierce competitor, John had been fighting the complications of a debilitating brain aneurysm for years, always under the unfailing care of his wife, Celeste.
John was an athlete, competing as a High School All-American on the swim team at Greenwich High in Connecticut and then at East Carolina University. He loved to travel, especially to beach locations in the Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean islands and Europe. He was a key member of several family/friends wilderness canoe trips, including a three-week river trip to the Hudson Bay in northern Ontario. John’s great personality drew people to him throughout his life.
John is survived by his loving wife, Celeste Crespo, of Shelton; sister, Norinne (“Reenie”) Constantine and her husband Denis of Guilford; and brothers, George Manning of Loysville, PA, Stephen Manning and his wife Karen of New Milford, and James Manning and his wife Karen of Shelton; as well as many nieces and nephews.
The family will be holding a Celebration of Life memorial at a date in the near future. Instead of flowers, you are asked to perform an unexpected act of kindness in John’s name, as a projection of John’s open and inclusive style. This would surely make him happy.
If you knew John on a personal level, please take a moment to remember a special time you shared with him.
