Deceased February 2, 2015
View alumni profile (log in required)
Read obituary
50th Reunion Book Entry
In Memory
Robert I. Manson died on Feb. 2, 2015. Bob grew up on the Navesink River in Red Bank, N.J., and acquired a love of boating and the water. As a boy, he built several boats of his own design: sailboats and iceboats. He and his brother Frank even made their own water skis.
At Amherst, Bob was an outstanding athlete on the track team. A 440-yard sprinter, he ran in many collegiate races in Madison Square Garden and the old Boston Garden. After Amherst he went into the family monument business in Red Bank. In 1942 he enlisted in the Navy and served as gunnery officer on a destroyer escort in the Pacific theater.
After the war Bob married Evelyn Tigh, settling in Red Bank. Tragically, Tigh succumbed to breast cancer shortly after the birth of their son, William. Bob, who found himself the single parent of 2-week-old Billy, was assisted by Tigh’s sister, Shirley Minton. In 1960 he married Susan Locklin, and they had a daughter, Dana.
After the war Bob joined Johnson & Johnson, rising to divisional vice president/operations. In 1967 he joined C. R. Bard Inc. As group vice president in charge of their international division, he traveled extensively, retiring in 1983.
In 1975 he married Dorothy Blair, who became the first female mayor of Shrewsbury, N.J., and after whom Manson Park was named.
He volunteered many hours for the Shrewsbury Historical Society and for Christ Episcopal Church, Shrewsbury.
Georgia Blair (stepdaughter)
