Jerome Charles "Jerry" Manuel
HILTON HEAD, SC, FORMERLY OF MARION - Jerome Charles "Jerry" Manuel passed away on Saturday, February 12, 2022. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on February 7, 1946 to Cecil and Catherine (Schmidt) Manuel.
He graduated from St. Francis High School Seminary in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1964. Although he would have made an excellent priest, he knew it was not his true calling. This is something for which his wife and six children are exceptionally thankful.
Jerry graduated with his BA degree from Xavier University in 1970 and started teaching at St. Bartholomew Elementary School in Cincinnati, Ohio. This is where he met his one and only true love, Corliss. They were married on August 14, 1971, and together they recently celebrated 50 years of wedded bliss.
In 1973, Jerry graduated from Xavier University with his Masters degree, and started along the path that was his true calling, which was working with people with developmental disabilities. He moved to Marion, Ohio and started working for the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities as the Assistant Superintendent and then Superintendent.
He stayed there until 1992, when Governor George Voinovich chose him to serve in his state cabinet as the Director of the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities. He served in this capacity for the full eight years of Governor Voinovich's two terms.
Following his time at the state, Jerry worked as a consultant for several developmental disabilities programs, including serving as acting superintendent for Williams County and Morrow County Boards of Developmental Disabilities.
Jerry also felt it was important to give back to his community. Jerry was a member of St. Mary's and Marion Catholic High School Advisory Boards in Marion, Ohio. He was a past member of Marion Kiwanis and Civitan. He was a founding member and past president of the Ohio Association of County Boards of Developmental Disabilities. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus and a member of the National Association of State Developmental Disabilities Directors. He also served as a Board Member and past president of the Special Olympics Ohio Board.
He also received many awards during his career. They included ARC Teacher of the Year, Professional Leadership Award from the Ohio Association of County Boards of DD, and numerous recognitions for leadership from ARC, OPRA and other groups during his tenure as the Director of the Ohio Department of DD. In 1997 – 1998, he was named the Knights of Columbus State Golf Champion. In 2013, the Administrative Wing of the Marion County Board of Developmental Disabilities was renamed in his honor.
Although Jerry's work and volunteering kept him busy, he always made time to be with Corliss and his six kids. He was a wonderful husband and an amazing father. He was very proud of his family. Jerry made sure to attend football, basketball, volleyball, softball, and baseball games, choir concerts, violin concerts, school plays, first communions, graduations, etc. His family always came first. He spent a lot of time driving kids around, and he spent a lot of time just waiting, as a father of five daughters.
While living in Ohio, Jerry and Corliss vacationed in Hilton Head, South Carolina one year on a whim, and they fell in love with the island. In 2013, they retired and moved to Hilton Head full time. To no one's surprise, Jerry became involved with an organization that serves people with developmental disabilities. He was a board member and past president for Osprey Village, Inc., and then he served as the Executive Director from 2016 until he retired again in 2021.
In Hilton Head, he met so many new friends. He volunteered for St. Francis by the Sea Church and served as a member of the School Advisory Council. He was an active golfer and bocce player, enjoyed eating out with friends and spending time with his wife, kids and grandkids.
He will be dearly missed by all who loved him and leaves behind many broken hearts. Those left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 50 years, Corliss; daughters: Megan Manuel of Maineville, Ohio, Shannon Manuel of South Lebanon, Ohio, Regan (Denny) Eveland of Newark, Ohio, Breighan (Nathan) Rich of Gahanna, Ohio, and Kassie (Kalem) Hosley of Maineville, Ohio; sisters: Diane (Bob) Hammer of The Villages, Florida, and Karen Rieman of Cincinnati, Ohio; and grandchildren Kenadee, Kolton, Rylee, Ella, Jaxson, and Brodie.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law, Richard and Dorothy Acker; his son, Morgan Manuel; his daughter-in-law, Lisha Manuel; and his brother-in-law, Gary Rieman.
Visitation will be Thursday, February 17, 2022 from 6 pm until 8 pm at the Keith Funeral Home 63 Arrow Road, Hilton Head. Funeral services will take place the following day, Friday, February 18, 2022 at 10 am at Holy Family Catholic Church 24 Pope Ave, Hilton Head.
Additional visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2022 from 12:00 pm – 2:30 pm at the Snyder Funeral Home, Gunder Hall Chapel 347 W. Center St. Marion, Ohio. Graveside service and burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jerry's memory to Osprey Village, Inc. PO Box 3155 Bluffton, SC 29910.
The Snyder Funeral Homes, Gunder/Hall Chapel is honored to serve Jerry's family; condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com
Posted online on February 14, 2022
Published in Marion Star
