Obituary of Joseph A. Manso

Joseph A. Manso, 85, husband, father, teacher, musician, conductor, carpenter and friend, died on January 5, 2016, peacefully at his home in Massapequa, NY. A native of Port Washington, NY, Mr. Manso began playing the baritone horn in the 5th grade, later switching to trombone – an instrument he would master over the next several years. Drafted into the U.S. Army, Mr. Manso got his start as a trombonist and conductor of the Army Band at Fort Hood, Texas during the Korean conflict. After his discharge from the Army, Mr. Manso attended SUNY Potsdam where he earned his bachelors degree from the Crane School of Music and met the love of his life, Adele Ann DiVito who pre-deceased him in 2012. He later went on to complete his masters degree at Columbia University. Mr. Manso began teaching in the Seaford Public Schools in 1957. The music program was initially very small, so he worked diligently to expand instrumental music within the secondary schools. He was appointed Director of Music and high school band director in 1967. Under Mr. Manso’s direction, music flourished in the district with the high school band going on to win national and international acclaim for its performances. When he retired from the district, the Seaford High School Auditorium was named in his honor. In addition to teaching in the public schools, Mr. Manso had a thriving private trombone studio and served as principal trombonist with several Long Island organizations including the Suffolk Symphony, the Massapequa Symphony, the Nassau Symphony and the American Concert Band. He was also a gifted carpenter and spent many weekends expanding his own home as well as those of others throughout the community alongside his cherished nephew Robert Manso. Mr. Manso’s “encore” career began in 1988 upon his retirement from the Seaford Public Schools. At the request of former students, Mr. Manso established an alumni band that was to perform one concert only. So many alumni participated that the venture continued as the Seaford Community Band with Mr. Manso at the baton for more than 20 years. That same year, he also became director of the Marian Male Chorus who called him “the king of all our hearts”. The band and chorus presented twice-yearly concerts to packed houses in the Joseph A. Manso Auditorium. In the late 1990s, Mr. Manso became director of the Senior Pops Orchestra of Long Island, a community orchestra geared toward older players that performs a dozen concerts a year. He spent more than 10 years with this organization before relinquishing the baton in 2010. Commitment to excellence, whether playing the trombone, building a deck, directing a band of high school students or conducting an orchestra of senior citizens was his way of life. Mr. Manso was not only an admired musician, conductor and teacher, he was also a father figure, mentor and, most of all, a dear and loving friend to countless people. He is survived by his four daughters Lisamarie, Suzanne, Annamaria and Christy Marie, his son-in-law Anthony and grandson Mason. He was a devoted uncle to many nieces and nephews, and was cherished by his grand dogs, Ruby and Sonny. May his legacy of love and music live in our hearts and the Seaford community for many years to come.