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Michael Mannion - Class of 1965

Submitted by Fran Olson Gustafson 1965 <fgustafson917@gmail.com> on 28/Sep/2021
71.223.232.34

        Michael B. Mannion of The Villages, Florida...... Holding the hands of his beloved two daughters, surrounded by loved ones including his faithful 4 legged companion, Michael B. Mannion, peacefully passed on Tuesday, September 28, 2021 ending his valiant and courageous year-long battle with Pancreatic Cancer. He bravely faced each challenge he met with a positive mindset and smile, spending time with his family and friends and doing all the things he enjoyed most.

Born on June 28, 1946 in Albany, New York to John Mannion and Audrey Mannion Whritner, he was the oldest of two children, brother to Kevin Mannion. Raised in Newburgh, Michael attended St. Patrick's Catholic School and graduated from Newburgh Free Academy in 1965. Michael was a Naval Reservist during the Vietnam War proudly serving aboard the USS America. Michael then worked for IBM for over thirty years. Retiring to Raleigh, North Carolina in the 1990's, he then enjoyed many personal business pursuits. Michael enjoyed being a member of The Boys Scouts, The American Legion, The Veterans of Foreign War, and The Elks Club. He took the opportunity to travel extensively throughout the world. He spent the last 10 years of his life living in Florida both on Singer Island before moving to his final home in The Villages in Fenney. It was here that he enjoyed wonderful and meaningful friendships that felt more like family than friends.

Michael was known for bad jokes, his love for Pete's Hot Dogs, helping others in need, enjoying good food and a good drink, always wearing a collared shirt and never wearing jeans unless he was doing something messy like yard work. Somehow he always knew how to fix things, how to get to wherever you were going, and he enjoyed giving advice. He had a way of making lasting connections and impressions with people he encountered in various places in his life.

Besides family and friends, Michael was most passionate about two things; his ability to bring joy to people as Santa Claus and his Labradoodle, Sally. Michael embodied the spirit of Santa in every sense of the word; the hair and beard, the belly (sorry, Dad!), the belly laugh, the smile and the constant twinkle in his beautiful blue eyes. He was affectionately known as Santa Claus by many, telling others when asked, that he was born at the North Pole over 441 years ago. Michael loved having children believe that he was indeed Santa on vacation in Florida in the off season. Each year he looked forward to working as Santa at private functions and at his seasonal job at the Millenia Mall in Orlando. He was honored when local papers interviewed him and hired him for local commercials. Sally, the Labradoodle, his constant four-legged companion, filled his every day with love and affection. They were the best of buds and Sally completed him. Where you saw Michael, you would find Sally.

Michael is survived by his two daughters, Michelle Dominguez and Tara Batson, their spouses, Werner Dominguez and Chris Batson, his three granddaughters, Emily Taggart and Sydney and Karly Batson, his brother, Kevin Mannion and his beloved dog, Sally.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to either Hospice of Orange-Sullivan County, 800 Stony Brook Court, Newburgh, New York 12550; or The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 (online at pancan.org/donate).

Visitation will be held from 2-5 pm on Saturday, October 2 at Brooks Funeral Home, 481 Gidney Ave., Newburgh. The family requests that masks be worn at the services. Additionally, the family will be planning a celebration of life in Florida at a later date to be determined. - June 28, 1946 - September 28, 2021