September 30, 1926 - March 25, 2020
SURF CITY, NJ – Former State Senator Francis (“Franny”) J. McManimon, 93, previously of Hamilton, NJ, passed away peacefully at the Hackensack Meridian Southern Ocean Medical Center on March 25, 2020, with his caring and devoted family nearby.
Born on September 30, 1926, in Trenton, NJ, Francis was an area resident for most of his life; he was a longtime parishioner of Holy Angels Church in Hamilton, and subsequently of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Long Beach Island, NJ. He raised his family in Hamilton and, upon his retirement, moved to Surf City in 2001 with his loving wife, Doris. Hewas a graduate of Holy Angels Grammar School, Trenton Catholic Boys High School and Bordentown Military Institute post-grad before attending Niagara University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Economics, and New York University, where he completed graduate work in the field of Recreation.
Francis served 20 years in the New Jersey State Legislature, in both the Senate and the Assembly, from 1972 to 1992. He is fondly known for his service to others and to the community, and for championing Veteran’s Rights and the Sanctity of Human Life. As a Democratic leader in the Senate, he represented the 14th Legislative District serving as Assistant Majority Leader, Chairman of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, the Senate Select Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the Senate Intergovernmental Relations Committee. He also served as Vice-Chair of the Institutions, Health & Welfare Committee, the Senate Transportation and Communications Committee, and the Independent Authorities Committee. He was responsible for sponsoring and moving significant legislation in the areas of highway transportation, veterans’ affairs, senior citizens, expansion and improvement of public parks, and land preservation. For his great service and honor, the State recently designated a portion of Interstate Highway Route 195 in Mercer County as "Francis J. McManimon Highway." One of his fondest memories was working with the second-grade class at Sunnybrae School who inspired the designation of the honey bee as the official State insect.
A pillar of the community, Senator McManimon was active in various community organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars 3525, American Legion Post 313, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Hamilton Elks, the Knights of Columbus Council 335, the National Parks and Recreation Society, and the New Jersey State Parks and Recreation Society, among others. He served in numerous public service roles - was a member of the NJ State Juvenile Delinquency Commission, and was the former chair of the State Board of Recreation Examiners. Franny was a sales rep for American Rubber from 1954 to 1961 and represented the company at major national golf tournaments. At the same time, and in keeping with his love of sports, he was assistant football coach at Trenton State College where his 1966 Football Team was named in their college Hall of Fame. He served as Superintendent of Parks and Recreation in the Township of Hamilton from 1961 to his retirement in 1989. He was most proud to be a WWII veteran, having entered military service at the age of 17 years in the United States Navy serving on the USS Dayton (CL-105, a light cruiser that his father worked on while docked at the shipyard in Camden, NJ) and having been in Tokyo Bay when Japan surrendered and the peace treaty was signed.
Francis was predeceased by his loving wife, C. Doris Cleary McManimon, his loving daughter, Deirdre Anne McManimon, his parents, Edward J. Sr. and Elizabeth Magee McManimon; his devoted siblings and their spouses: E. Claire and William I. Hooker Sr., Edward J. Jr. and Edna, Mary Jane and William G. Seiler Jr., William P. and Patricia T., John P. & Rosemary, Joseph J. and Delores, T. Roger and Dolores A., Rev. Monsignor James P., and Robert McManimon; his brother-in-law, James J. Cleary; and his cousins Patrick J. Magee and James Conlon.
He is survived by his loving children and their spouses, Maureen and Dennis Kinnevy of Trenton, Sean and Patricia McManimon, Doreen and Giovanni Regina of Ridgewood, NJ; and his devoted grandchildren and great-grandchild who meant the world to him: Kara Marie Kinnevy, Christopher and Courtney Kinnevy, Sean Patrick and Angela McManimon, Victoria McManimon, Daniel, Stephanie and Joseph Regina, and his great grandchild Harper Rose Kinnevy. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law, Doris Cleary and Patricia McManimon, and by his cousins Isabelle Magee and Mary Frances Conlon, as well as many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly. The family pays tribute to his health aide, Jocelyn, for the wonderful care given over the last four years. Her unwavering kindness, respect and compassion was truly appreciated.
In light of the current Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, Interment will be private with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at a later date to be determined. Arrangements are under the care of the Buklad-Merlino Memorial Home, 2141 South Broad Street in Hamilton, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Francis’ memory to Gabrielle’s Angels, an organization that works tirelessly to fund research in Hodgkin’s disease, leukemia and blood cancers, an area very close to his and Doris’ heart. Please use the following website: www.gabriellesangels.org/donate and dedicate to “Francis J. McManimon.”
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