Gesner François Manigat

Gesner François Joseph Saint Surin Manigat, affectionately known as “Pop” or “Mon Oncle Gesner” was born on January 31, 1929 in Port-au-Prince, Haiti to Etienne-Joseph François Manigat and Haydee Augustin. From this union came 4 children: Janine, Myrtha, Gesner, and Leslie. Gesner also had 5 older paternal half-siblings: Christian, Lumena, Maurice, Yolande, and Laura. All of his siblings predeceased him.

Gesner’s early days were spent living with his father at Eden-Villa, the mansion built by his grandfather, General François Manigat. Eden-Villa was an architectural masterpiece that hosted many balls and receptions that were frequented by dignitaries, including the country’s President.

After Kindergarten, Gesner went to live with his mother in Port-au-Prince to attend the Institution St. Louis de Gonzague with his younger brother, Leslie, where they completed 13 years of primary and secondary education. After his father’s death, Gesner, his mother and brothers fell into abject poverty. He worked various jobs to help his family survive while he attended polytechnic school and majored in engineering. Upon graduation, he obtained employment as a civil engineer.

In 1951, he met the love of his life, Marie-Thérèse Malval. They married in 1955 and settled in Port-au-Prince. They were blessed with 5 daughters. Gesner received a scholarship through the World Health Organization to study sanitary engineering at the University of Montreal. Due to the political climate, Gesner had to leave for Canada immediately and was unable to return to Haiti for decades. After he graduated, Gesner settled in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn and sent for his wife and daughters. They were blessed with their 6th daughter soon thereafter. Everyone always joked to him about trying so hard for a son. But Gesner always responded with pride and a smile saying “A son is a son until he gets a wife. A daughter is a daughter for all her life.”

Gesner dealt with a lot of adversity in America. He could not find a job as a civil engineer because of his race. He had to take all types of odd jobs to support his family. He finally obtained a job as a civil engineer for the City of NY where he stayed until he retired as the Director of Sewage Design at the age of 71. He and his wife purchased a home in 1974 and moved their family to Cambria Heights, Queens, NY. This was a source of great pride for him because owning a home was key to obtaining the American dream. His home was open to everyone and hosted family & friends for holidays, celebrations, BBQs, sleepovers, temporary stays, and vacations. His home became known as “Eden-Villa” (a homage to the original) because it was the home base for Manigats in America. He called this house home for the rest of his life.

After the fall of the dictatorship, Gesner was able to return to Haiti. He attended the inauguration of his brother Leslie, who, in 1988, became President of Haiti. Gesner was very proud of Leslie and supported his brother’s dream. He hosted him, his wife and their political party meetings and gatherings at his home in Queens on countless occasions. Gesner loved vacationing in Haiti every summer. He stayed with his sister, Myrtha, who established a free

school for local poor children at her home. Gesner helped his sister maintain and operate the school to ensure its viability. For decades, L’Ecole Agape, has provided nutritional meals and education to many children - giving them a chance at a better life. The school is now operated by the next generation of Manigats and thus Gesner and Myrtha’s legacy lives on.

Gesner loved history, art and culture. He read magazines like National Geographic and the Smithsonian that fueled his desire to see the world. Upon retirement, he was finally able to travel to countries all over Western and Central Europe and Africa - his dream finally came true. Gesner also loved classical music – whether listening or playing it. He was the maestro of a choir and orchestra while in college where he played the clarinet and taught himself to play the piano. He was a master at Sudoku and was a formidable dominoes player – always winning and calling out “Dekabès!”

Gesner’s source of great pride & joy was his family and the Manigat legacy. In 2004, utilizing decades of research and personal journals, Gesner constructed the Manigat genealogy. He submitted this genealogy to the U.S. Library of Congress and the Bibliotheque Nationale De France archives - both submissions were accepted. In December 2019, as a gift to his daughters and nieces, he finished his memoir titled, My Recollections. This memoir was a compellation of pictures, personal memories and a cross section of Haitian and Manigat history dating back to Jean-Louis Guillaume Manigat, a well-educated, free Black man who was sent by France to the French colony of Saint-Domingue during the second half of the 18th century. Today, this genealogy, located on Ancestry.com, contains multiple branches with over 1,000 relatives who are descendants of Guillaume Manigat.

Gesner was a very loyal and steadfast friend. He maintained friendships for well over 5 decades, some for more than 85 years. Among those long-term friends that supported him until the end of his life are Francois Innocent, Roland Creve-Coeur, Charles Pouponneau, Marie Edith Marcellus, Ines Lopez, Harry Byas, and Andre Aladdin. Gesner was also a “substitute father” for many of his nieces, nephews, grandchildren and his daughters’ close friends. He even walked a few down the aisle at their weddings.

On August 9th, 2024, Gesner’s long and blessed life ended peacefully at the age of 95. He leaves this world to join his wife of 58 years, Marie-Thérèse, and his grandson, Tyler, in Glory. His legacy, commanding presence, electric smile, and endless capacity for love will be missed by those he leaves behind: His daughters and sons-in-law: Gilianne, Jocelyne (& Joel), Magalie, Florence (& James), Yanick (& Ayodele), and Nancy. His grandchildren: Nicholas (& Moyna), Leah, Julian, Terence, Ian, Alina, Arielle, Brandon, Christian, & Simone. His great-grandson, Micah. His brother-in-law, Jean-Gerard Pierre, Sr. and his sisters-in-law, Gisele Brown, Alfrede Leger & Mirlande Manigat. Along with a host of beloved cousins, nieces, nephews, grand and great-grand nieces & nephews, godchildren and friends.

A visitation for Gesner will be held Friday, August 16, 2024 from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at R. Stutzmann & Son, 224-39 Jamaica Ave, Queens Village, NY 11428. The funeral mass will be Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, 115-50 221st St, New York, NY 11411. The interment will follow at Pinelawn Memorial Park and Arboretum, 2030 Wellwood Ave, Farmingdale, NY 11735.