Vincent J. Manara, Jr., 82

Vincent J. Manara, Jr., 82 of Willow Street, PA, passed away on Friday, May 10, 2013 at Lancaster General Hospital.  He was the husband of Esther G. Sauer Manara, with whom he recently celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Vincent Joseph Manara, Jr., was born in Bound Brook, New Jersey and raised in Raritan, New Jersey by the late Vincent J. and Josephine Garry Manara. He attended Somerville High School, Somerville, New Jersey prior to entering the U. S. Naval Academy in 1948. He was graduated from the Naval Academy and commissioned an Ensign in June 1952.

His first assignment was the USS LEYTE (CVA 32) home ported in Quonset Point, Rhode Island. He reported to USS WARRINGTON (DD 8430) in September 1954 where he served until June 1956.

During the next two years, he studied ordnance engineering at the U.S. Navy Postgraduate School, Monterey, California and completed a third year at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley.  He was awarded his masters degree in nuclear physics in May 1959.

He then reported to the Commander, Amphibious Squadrons Atlantic and served on his staff until December 1960 when he moved to the newly formed staff of Commander, Amphibious Squadron TWELVE where he served until October 1961.

He was designated an Engineering Duty Officer in 1961 and reported to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine where he served as FBM Project Officer, Combat Systems Superintendent and POLARIS Overhaul Project Officer.  From July 1966 to June 1971, he served in the Naval Ship Systems Command, initially as Fleet Modernization Program Officer and finally as Assistant Director of Military Personnel.  In July 1971, he reported to the newly created billet of Deputy Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, USN Groton, Connecticut where he served until December 1974.  In February 1975, he assumed command as Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, USN, Seattle, Washington.  In August 1977, he reported for duty as Director, SUPSHIP Management Division in the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, and D.C.  On 31 August 1978, he assumed command as Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Conversion and Repair, USN, Newport News, Virginia, the position from which he retired on 1 October 1981.

Captain Manara has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with Gold Star, the Navy Occupation Service Medal with Europe clasp and the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation.

After retirement from the Navy he joined Columbia Research Corporation where he was appointed Vice President for Fleet Support Programs. In 1985, he moved to Unisys Corporation (then Sperry Corporation) where he was Manager of Arlington Operations for Frigate Combat Systems.  He retired again on 1 August 1993.

He is survived by his daughters: Theresa married to Charles Scozzafava of Cold Spring, NY and Susan married to Robert Coughlin of Sparta, NJ; his son Vincent III married to Stephanie Mitchell-Manara of Houston, TX; his grandchildren Jennifer Scozzafava-Jones married to Evan Jones, Stephanie and Carly Manara and Robert Coughlin, and by his great grandson, Derek Jones.  His sisters Patricia Niles and Toni Bocchini also survive him.  His sister Louise Sutphen preceded him in death.

Friends will be received on Friday, May 17, 2013 from 1-2PM at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church 2111 Millersville Pike, Lancaster, PA 17603 with the Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 2PM, the Rev. Mark Weiss as Celebrant.  Interment in Arlington National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, please make contributions in Vincent’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675.  To send an online condolence, please visit:  SnyderFuneralHome.com, Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory 717-393-9661