George Kenneth Mannix

George Kenneth Mannix (Ken) of Pearl River, NY died peacefully surrounded by his loving daughters on Friday, March 1. He was 88. 

Mr. Mannix is survived by his two daughters Kimberly and her husband Brian Kishpaugh, Carrie and her husband Jon Hegarty, and his 5 grandchildren Nathan, Evan, William, Jack and Abigail.  He is predeceased by his loving wife of 28 years, Sharry Mannix.

Mr. Mannix was born on June 9, 1935 in Bronx, NY. He was born the oldest of 4 children to Patrick and Anna (Rock).  He attended school at St. Helena’s Parish.  After his 3rd year of high school, he was approached by the Pittsburgh and Boston baseball organizations and asked if he would consider going to their Farm Team as a pitcher.  He was injured later that year, and never made it to the league. He stayed at St. Helena’s until the end of Junior Year when he transferred to Marist Preparatory School, Esopus, NY in preparation for being a Teaching Brother. After graduating Marist Prep, Mr. Mannix moved to East Tyngsborough, MA to St. Joseph’s Novitiate, similar to a seminary school, where he learned Theology and Religious Discipline.  After Tyngsborough, he went to Marist College (then Marian College) in Poughkeepsie, NY for 3 years where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History. After graduating, Mr. Mannix had many assignments including a reassignment to St. Joseph’s Novitiate in Tyngsborough, MA as a chef, Holy Trinity Catholic School in Poughkeepsie, NY, and Cardinal Hayes, NYC during which time he attended St. John’s University and received his Master of Arts in American History. He then taught at St. Joseph High School, in Trumbull, CT before transferring to Kobe, Japan where he taught British and American history for 2 years at the Marist International School. He was also the soccer coach, yearbook coordinator and gym coach. After Kobe, Mr. Mannix went to Tokyo where he studied Japanese language full time for 2 years. After Tokyo, he was assigned to Marist High School in Kumamoto, Kyushu Province, Japan where he taught translations (English to Japanese and Japanese to English) and American Conversation. After a total of 7 years in Japan, Mr. Mannix came back to the US, left the Brothers and got a job in the South Bronx, NY at Toscanini Intermediate School (IS) where he taught 7th grade math for 1 year (1967-68). While teaching in the South Bronx, he met a tall, stunning redhead named Sharry Smith from Peoria, IL while out at a singles bar named the “Crock of Gold”.  In 1968, Mr. Mannix began his 33-year tenure at Pearl River Middle School where he taught 7th grade math for 3 years and 7th grade social studies for the remining 30 years.  He married Sharry Smith on July 21, 1973, at St. John’s University Chapel, NY.  In 1975, while writing his PhD dissertation and there were no diplomatic relations with China, he was one of the first Americans to travel to China at the invitation of the New Zealand government.  He spent a month touring and taking notes. Upon his return he was part of a 5-part ABC series and wrote numerous humanitarian magazine articles about China. In 1980-1982 he worked part-time for the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) writing their history.

Upon his retirement from Pearl River Middle School, Mr. Mannix was an active member of the Retired Teachers Association, Pearl River Seniors Organization, the Church of the Presentation Seniors Organization and was a member of St. Aedan’s Church.

Mr. Mannix was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan and at 6 years old was sent a birthday card from the team with Stan Musial’s signature. He loved to laugh and reminisce, loved the company of friends and colleagues but his greatest joy was his 5 grandchildren who he loved teasing, laughing, and spending time with. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, March 6 and Thursday, March 7 from 3-7pm at Wyman-Fisher Funeral Home in Pearl River, NY.  A Catholic mass will be held on Friday, March 8 at 10am at St. Aedan’s Church in Pearl River. Burial will follow at Ascension Cemetery in Airmont, NY.

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