Obituary of Joseph M. McManus

Joseph M. McManus, of Larchmont, NY, died July 14, 2026.

Joseph was born to Joseph and Gertrude on March 6^th, 1935.

He grew up in the Flatlands section of Brooklyn, New York, attending St. Thomas Aquinas school, Brooklyn Preparatory School (’53), and Manhattan College (’57).  He grew up in a typical Irish Catholic home with his devoted Mother (Gertrude Donahue McManus), father, Joseph, Sr., and siblings Daniel and Frances. 

Joseph took great pride in his Jesuit education and maintained lifelong friendships from Brooklyn Prep, which he cherished as part of his formation.  

In his formative years, Joe worked at the Breezy Point Surf Club in the Rockaways.  There, as a cabana boy, he developed an industrious work ethic and found enjoyment and satisfaction by providing great service and having a few dollars in his pocket.  Over this time, he sharpened a tireless can-do attitude and entrepreneurial spirit.  He had an aura with that smile, laugh and whistle that would be invaluable in the years to come. 

Joe graduated with a BS in accounting from Manhattan College, and went on to Georgetown Law where he ended up withdrawing - to come home to help his father with the family business, John J. McManus, and Sons, a multi-generational family funeral home on Flatbush Avenue - and obtained his Funeral Director’s license. 

Thirty-nine months and three children later, in their small Ocean Parkway apartment, Joseph came to a crossroads He made the difficult and audacious decision to take his business and life acumen to Wall Street endeavoring to make his way as a 100% commission government bond salesman.  Thus started a new journey in the world of finance. New York Hanseatic, Carroll, McEntee and McGinlley, First Penco, JP Morgan, Morgan Guarantee, Bear Stearns, and RW Pressprich were some of the shops he called home.  Joseph was disciplined and a proponent of being prepared.  Joseph’s sons grew up seeing him, every night, as a post day wrap up, capturing bond prices, yields, and coupons; helping to inform him of nuanced yield curve dynamics, and to provide his many and varied customers with marvelous and valuable insights.  This was an act of love, not vanity, as he modeled the kind of effort needed to provide value and sustain a beautiful family.  

In 1969 Joe moved his growing family to Larchmont, which he ‘discovered’ years earlier while driving school buses in Westchester while at Manhattan College. Since he saw it, the wheels had been turning and the time was right.  It was there that he and Wendy completed and raised their family; Joe’s whistle was known far and wide and was an instant message of sorts letting his sons know when it was time to come home. 

Joseph was not ‘all work and no play’; his earnestness, integrity, care for others, and infectious laugh were enjoyed by countless friends along his life’s journey, and most especially by his beloved Stew and Betty (McMillan) and Helen and Marty (Waters).  He loved his family dearly, and he and Wendy were long time members of the Larchmont Yacht Club where Joseph loved to hit tennis balls with his sons, enjoy the beauty of Larchmont harbor, and dine out with those he loved the most. 

As his son’s grew, Joe was often the loudest parent on the sidelines, cheering and whistling for his sons whether they were playing soccer, hockey, or swimming and diving. 

Later in life, Joseph had the pleasure and privilege of joining Winged Foot Golf Club where he fell in love with the sport and enjoyed deeply the opportunity to spend time with Wendy, his dear friends, and rounds with his sons who were mainly local. 

Woven in and throughout Joseph’s life was his faith, which was a shield and a pillar.  Joseph prioritized practicing his faith, and with the help of his dear and precious Wendy - quietly and without fanfare - led his family by example - demonstrated the importance of honoring God, having a spirit of gratitude for the myriad fruits of his Catholic faith for his beloved family.  It brings great joy to Joe’s loved ones to know that he kept the faith.  He ran the good race; fought the good fight.   

Joseph will be missed for his sense of humor, love of his family, impeccable integrity, deep care for his friends, brilliant analogies and quips, and not least of all that whistle. 

He is the Beloved husband of Wendy E. (nee Werner) McManus and Devoted father of Joseph A. (Cynthia), Andrew S. (Yabarina), Charles W. (Meghan), Michael A. (Kate) and Edward C..  Dear brother of Frances M. Garvin and Daniel B. McManus (Meg).  Loving grandfather of Grace Perkins (Gavin), Brennan D., Gavin J., Rosemary A., Michael R., Ann Daly F., John J., Brent K. and

Jimena V.

Joseph’s family will receive friends on Monday, July 20, 2026 from 2pm to 6pm at Clark Associates Funeral Home, 4 Woods Bridge Road, Katonah, NY.  The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 21, 2026 at 10am at St. Augustine RC Church, 18 Cherry Avenue, Larchmont, NY. Interment will follow at Kensico Cemetery, 273 Lakeview Avenue, Valhalla, NY.

In memoriums to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital deeply appeciated.