Edward Joseph McManimon III died peacefully on Feb. 2 at his home in New Jersey with his family close by after a long illness. He was 77.
For more than 50 years he practiced law at
Mr. McManimon began his legal career as the law secretary for the Honorable George H. Barlow of the U.S. District Court in Trenton. Following this judicial clerkship, he worked at Kraft & Hughes, where he became a partner in 1977. The successor firms of Kraft & McManimon and McManimon & Scotland were formed in 1987 and 1992, respectively, and now are known as McManimon, Scotland & Baumann LLC.
He worked extensively in analyzing, developing and implementing financial plans for redevelopment areas throughout New Jersey. He also worked on the privatization of public water, wastewater and solid waste systems, including the preparation of procurement documents and the evaluation of proposals and the negotiation of agreements for the sale, leasing and/or operations of these public facilities by investor-owned and/or other non-regulated private utility companies.
Mr. McManimon was involved in many professional and bar association activities as well as doing work in the community.
The New Jersey Law Journal honored him in its inaugural class of Lifetime Achievement Award and the New Jersey League of Municipalities awarded him its "Distinguished Public Service Award."
He was a member of the Local Government Law Section of the New Jersey Bar Association and was a member of the Institute of Municipal Attorneys. He also served as special counsel to the League of Municipalities in connection with public finance and redevelopment matters.
Mr. McManimon was a lecturer on municipal finance law, providing debt management courses and programs on behalf of the N.J. League of Municipalities, the N.J. Authorities Association, the N.J. Government Finance Officers Association, the Association of County Finance Officers, the N.J. Association of Counties, the N.J. Clerks Association, the N.J. Institute for Professional Development and the Rutgers University Municipal Financial Management Course.
He was also a member of the Government Finance Officers Association, County Finance Officers Association, National Bond Attorneys Association and the N.J. Institute of Municipal Attorneys.
As Georgetown University Class of 1968 Reunions Chair, he also served on the Board of Governors of the Alumni Association and was recipient of the John Carroll Award and William Gaston Award — the two highest alumni awards given by Georgetown.
Joseph P. Baumann Jr., chairman of MS&B, said that while Mr. McManimon had a distinguished career, it was not his only legacy.
"Ed's legacy lives in those who were touched by him. You see, Ed lived to serve — humbly, simply and purely," he said. "Service for Ed began with humility. Despite his obvious talents and achievements, and the acknowledgments that followed, Ed remained ready to assist and serve all of us. No ask too small. No task below his stature. He met us where we were; not the other way around."
He said the source of Mr. McManimon's desire to help others was pure and simple.
"He cared. He saw potential. Potential we often did not see in ourselves. He refused to allow that potential to go unrealized. Ed encouraged, pushed, and prodded us forward," he said. "Always he remained only a call, email, text, or conversation away if we needed reassurance, advice, or more prodding. Ed remained at his core an advisor, coach, and mentor. A servant to others. Through that service, he celebrated our success and helped us through our failures."
Mr. McManimon is survived by his wife of 54 years, Christina; their two children, Maura Fennessy (Conor) and Christopher; and grandchildren, Liam McManimon, and Seamus and Killeen Fennessy.
He is also survived by siblings Pat McManimon (Karen), Jane Cahill (Bill), Maryann Steinborn (Ed), Eileen McManimon, Jim McManimon (Mary), Tom McManimon (Mary), Tracy McManimon (Gary Hansen), and sister-in-law, Debbi McManimon, and was "Uncle Ed" to over 20 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by brother, Michael McManimon.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 8, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., ET, and on Friday, Feb. 9, from 9.45 a.m. until 10.45 a.m., at St. James Roman Catholic Church, 115 E. Delaware Ave, Pennington, N.J. A service will be held on Friday, Feb. 9, at 11 a.m., also at St. James Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, 72 Escher Street, Trenton, N.J., 08609.
