Muriel R. Manus

Muriel passed away peacefully on November 15th, 2024, at the glorious age of 95. She passed watching her favorite channel, The Food Network. Born with cerebral palsy at a time when navigating the world for anyone with a disability was a challenge, her disability never hindered her from accomplishing great things throughout her life. Her expansive work experience spanned from working for musician Bobby Benson to a business administrator at New York Teacher's College to a business administrator for a San Francisco rehabilitation therapy practice formed alongside her beloved husband, Jerry, and lastly, as a bookkeeper in her daughter's business management firm, Business Results, Inc, until retiring at age 88. She was an avid learner, making her a natural for the computer age, with an impressive 95 words per minute on a manual typewriter, before moving to an IBM Selectric, the first Apple Macintosh, and even a ten-key. As a parent, her home was a haven for young people who their families did not accept. The desire for a healthier environment and a 1965 transformational summer spent in Berkeley drew Jerry and Muriel to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area in the mid-70s, though she spent her last years in Canton, Massachusetts. She's survived by her two children, Clark and Edi, and daughter-in-law, Carol, and the rest of her family, which has blossomed over the years, including her grandchildren: Justin, his wife, Jenna; Taylor and her husband, Matt; Sasha, and her four great-grandchildren, Graham, Eli, Olivia, and Avery. The love of her family was the essence of her joy. She was an inspiration, a mentor, and a friend, touching and enriching the lives of so many people. As a tough New Yorker from Brooklyn and an avowed pizza slut, her favorite foods included cheesecake, chocolate-covered cherries, and only half an apple. She lived a life full of grace, dignity, laughter, and, most importantly, love. She left a legacy of living a whole life surrounded by the love of her family and all those she met and befriended. She is greatly missed. A memorial service will be held in the SF Bay Area in the spring.