Richard D. Manuel

Richard D. Manuel passed away unexpectedly on March 12, 2022 surrounded by his loving family at Baystate Medical Center. A devoted family man, he was a friend to everyone he met, and quick to lend a helping hand. Above all else, he was always a true gentleman! Known as Dick to his friends and colleagues, he was born on August 11, 1933 in Washington, D.C. to Theodore and Gladys (Conard) Manuel. He spent his happy childhood with his sister and cousins at their grandparents’ farm in Virginia. He attended Duke University and graduated in 1956 with a Civil Engineering degree. He remained a die-hard Duke Blue Devils fan for the rest of his life. Upon graduation, he fulfilled his ROTC commitment in the U.S. Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant stationed at Westover Air Force Base.

In 1960, he married his beloved wife, Joan Glesmann, and they spent 62 wonderful years together. They settled in South Hadley and raised three children whom he adored: Lynda McClintock (Darby O’Brien) of South Hadley, Judith Harding (David) of Glastonbury, CT, and Richard Manuel, Jr. (Cara Sterling) of Winchester, MA.

Dick worked as an engineer for Aquadro & Cerruti, Inc. in Northampton, MA for 50 years, many of them as their dedicated Treasurer. He oversaw the construction of hundreds of buildings in the Pioneer Valley: schools, office buildings, churches, parking garages and college buildings, most notably laying out Hampshire College. Everyone that met Dick, from the clients to the architects to the suppliers and the construction crews knew him as an honest, reliable, dedicated professional whose positive, “can-do” attitude made him a lot of fun to work with. He was also a welcoming man who treated everybody with kindness and respect. And he was always happy to share a story or two.

Dick was very proud of being one of the 5% who achieve Scouting’s highest honor – Eagle Scout. Eagle Scouts are people of strong character who value perseverance, discipline, accountability and achievement in every aspect of their lives. Dick Manuel embodied all these qualities. Throughout the years, he served his community in many different leadership roles worthy of an Eagle Scout: Town Meeting and Prudential Board member, Deacon at First Congregational Church, Boy Scout Leader of Troop 301, President of Evergreen Cemetery, and even as a volunteer firefighter for District 2. He was also President of the Blaisdell Lake Property Owner’s Association in New Hampshire.

Dick spent as much time as possible in New Hampshire at his family lake house. It was his “happy place.” His engineering acumen and construction skills transformed an old Girl Scout camp into the family’s favorite gathering place. This was the location for knot-tying lessons with Grampy, working on puzzles, reading on the dock, competitive tennis and ping-pong tournaments, horseshoe games, fort building in the woods, swimming, sailing, kayaking, water-skiing, and many, many famous Manuel theme parties! Endless happy memories were made at the lake. His family will especially miss having those late-night chats on the porch, listening to the loons.

Dick leaves behind his dear sister Lorraine May and her family of Morro Bay, CA. A brother-in-law Robert A. Glesmann, III of Granby, MA and nephew Robert T. Glesmann (Sheila) and family of Severna Park, MD. He was predeceased by brother-in-law Jonathan Glesmann and wife Janet, and sister-in-law Jane Glesmann.

He also leaves 6 cherished grandchildren who thought the world of their “Grampy”: Emily McClintock of Seoul, South Korea, Jake O’Brien of South Hadley, Molly and Matthew Harding of Glastonbury, CT, and Nicholas and Jeffrey Manuel of Winchester, MA.

Family and friends are invited to gather for calling hours on Friday, March 25, 2022, from 4-7pm at O’Brien Family Funeral Home, 33 Lamb Street, South Hadley, MA. A private family funeral and burial with military honors will take place at Evergreen Cemetery in South Hadley, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to The American Diabetes Association, or The Dakin Humane Society, (www.dakinhumane.org) P.O. Box 6307, Springfield, MA 01101 (where many of the family’s loving dogs came from), or to a charity of one’s choosing. O’Brien Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. To leave an online condolence, please visit  www.obrienfamilyfh.com.