John Edward McManus

John was born in Everett, Massachusetts on May 13, 1944 to John and Ann McManus. With his first breath, John was challenged by life as both a blessing and a burden. John’s twin brother, Charles, did not survive birth.

After high school, John became a master cabinetmaker. When he was 22, he enlisted in the army and was sent into combat in Vietnam. In 1968, during his second tour of duty as an Army Sergeant, he was wounded in a mortar attack near the Cambodian border. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

After 8 long years of suffering, John entered the Veterans Hospital for treatment of PTSD in 1976. “I had continually suffered from the flashbacks of my experiences in combat, “ John explained. “During the day I would still feel like a soldier in Vietnam still cut off from my unit. Everything and everyone around me was the enemy.” The therapy he received helped John learn to break through his anguish and begin to express the emotion he felt so deeply.

During this time, two significant things happened that changed John’s life forever: John began taking classes at Santa Monica College where he discovered his love of sculpting and he met a 6 year old boy who would teach him to love life. John met Jonathan when he answered an ad for a live-in caretaker for the young boy suffering from Lupis.

“Jonathan was small for his age.” He had been bed-ridden for over 3 months and was thin and weak when John first met him. Although his little body was weak, his will to live was immense and this little boy taught John the meaning of valuing life. “I’d watch him walk and then fall, yet he would get right up and try again. I would go back to the hospital at night and scream: Why doesn’t he just lay down and die? I would if I could! The hospital staff would push me to go back and deal with Jonathan’s struggle. “

“In time we became friends. On our morning walks he would tire and I’d carry him on my shoulders. I found myself singing kids songs with him and finding ways to make him exercise. I always treated him like a person and not like a dying child. When he got strong enough I would take him to school and sit in the back of his first grade classroom in the tiny chair behind a tiny desk. I still wore my old army shirt with the sergeant stripes on it, and the kids loved it. “

After many relapses over the years, Jonathan suddenly died. Even though John knew this would happen eventually, he was still unprepared. “For a time, I wanted to return to my world of silence and anger. “

“Several weeks later, still in the midst of pain and grief, I returned to the school. The children were still there. I was determined to keep myself at a distance. I wasn’t going to get close to anyone again, it was too painful.”

“Then I saw a child trip and fall. Before I realized what was happening, I was holding the child on my lap while 4 or 5 others crowded around me all wanting hugs at the same time. My walls came down. Jonathan had given me the gift of unconditional love and now I was learning how to share it with others. “

While taking classes at Santa Monica College, John came upon a sculpting class. “The sound of the chisel on stone was like a siren’s call. “Sculpting has given me the ability to take many painful experiences and emotions and turn them around to greater empathy for people.” John’s sculptures explored the themes of war, suffering, service and spirituality. Some of his notable works include:

Abandoned which represents “ the child in me that I picked on for not being tough enough. Through him I was able to deal with the pain of the kids I saw in Vietnam and the death of Jonathan” The piece also represents his feeling of loneliness after returning from the war. More than any of his work, Abandoned stirred the greatest controversy, as the raw pain expressed was difficult for some to view.

Rose: Rose represents the gentle and sensitive femininity of a mother, sister or friend.

Mother Teresa: “I wanted to sculpt human beings who made a difference in the world. She faced a horrible world, and had a loving spirit about it.”

Mother and Child: Used as a symbol for the Jewish World Watch campaign to help the Sudanese refuges.

“As an artist, he said, “I’ve gone through the transition from being tormented in the beginning and that has given way to gentleness and love. “ His work has been shown in the US Congress and Senate rotundas, at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum in Austin, TX, Kork Gallery in Lincoln Center NY. He has works in residence at the Vietnam Veterans Museum of Art in Chicago.

In 1986 John became a volunteer with Hospice at the VA Hospital. He thought he would be afraid to work with veterans at the end of life. Once again, an emotionally challenging situation, in the service of others, was a transformational experience. During this time s he asked Sindy to marry him. They were married on July 9; 1988.The chapel at the hospital was filled with the Hospice patients John had grown to love and respect. Their son, Matthew, was born the following year. Sindy and John’s relationship endured changes over time. They remained partners in a deepening relationship of support and unconditional love.

John’s life is an example of overcoming limitations, and moving always towards love. It was not simple, or easy or free from anxiety or pain. In spite of being burdened with ongoing struggles of PTSD, John moved toward deep and devoted friendships with many.

“A sense of freedom convinces you that you’ve been through the worst and you can now walk through any challenge as an expression of deep and conflicting emotions. “ Over the last 39 + years, John discovered many ways to be of service to those in need. He helped many people with the recovery process.

Many of the staff at the Veterans Home where John resided for the last 3 years of his life, remarked how they loved John’s kindness and humor. Right up the very last days of his life, John was affecting those around him. He showed us that you can still be willing to live in face of all difficulties, you can listen with acceptance and you can always give the gift of encouragement to others.

John is survived by his son, Matthew Charles McManus, his wife, Sindy McManus and a large circle of extended family and loving friends.

Memorial Services will be held on

Sunday February 15, 2015 at 1:00 pm at

Gates, Kinsley & Gates

4220 South Sepulveda Blvd.

Culver City, CA 90230

Donations in John McManus’s name can be made to:

Love on 4 Paws Assistance Dogs

www.loveon4paws.org/donate.asp

Or

Vietnam Veterans of America

www.vva.org/