Daniel J. Maneely

Daniel J. Maneely 1936 - 2009 BENNINGTON Daniel J. Maneely, 72, a resident of North Terrace Drive, Bennington, died peacefully Monday, Jan. 12, 2009, at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center following a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Fullerton, Calif., Aug. 2, 1936, son of Theodore and Betty George Maneely. Dan received his early education in the San Francisco Bay area before moving to Mountain View, Calif., where he was a 1955 graduate of Mountain View High School. Dan was a member of both the track and basketball teams while attending Mountain View. He attended San Jose State College as an engineering major for two years before transferring to the University of California, Berkley where he received a B.S in Mechanical Engineering in 1959 and an M.S. Mechanical Engineering in 1961. He developed his work ethic at an early age by working in the orchards of Mountain View, the factory of American Can Company and for a house builder where he learned drafting skills. Also while in college Dan worked for NASA as a technician at the NASA Ames Laboratory wind tunnel. During these years he met his former wife, Arlene Davison. After earning his M.S. degree Dan was employed at United Technology Center, UTC, in Sunnyvale, Calif., from 1960 thru 1968 where he designed and developed solid rocket components, including the rocket nozzle for the Titan IIIC solid rocket boosters. At that time this was the largest solid rocket ever built and served the Air Force for nearly 20 years. He left UTC as the Section Chief of Solid Rocket Motor Design. In 1968 he moved to Los Angeles to work for HITCO, a company making composite materials and molded products for the aerospace industry. Dan worked as Manager of Applications Development for a new carbon fiber being developed by HITCO. In 1972 he was promoted to manager of the Material Science Center. He oversaw the development of a new line of high performance carbon fibers, built a pilot plant, and introduced it to the market. In 1980 Dan left California and moved to Bennington to work for Oak Fothergill, a small startup making advanced composite structures. After arriving in Bennington Dan met the former Heather Wheatley Andrick. He and Heather were married at the Second Congregational Church in Bennington on Aug. 30, 1986. Oak Fothergill was eventually taken over by Courtalds, and in 1989 Dan was promoted to General Manager of Courtaulds Structural Composites, a position he held until 1996 when the company was put up for sale. At that time Dan organized a management buy-out and together with six colleagues purchased the company and formed Vermont Composites, Inc. where he served as President from 1996 until 2004 when the company was sold. During the time of Dan's tenure, the company expanded and employed many people from the greater Bennington area. After retiring as President, Dan continued to serve as a Board member of Vermont Composites. He also served as a consultant for Plasan Carbon Carbon Composites until the time of his death. A very active member of the community for many years, Dan was a past president of the Board of Directors of BCIC, past president of the Board of Directors of Bennington Project Independence, a member of the Board of Directors of The Learning Center, a lifetime member of SAMPE, and had been recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Bennington Rotary Club. At the age of 19, Dan, together with his brother, developed an avid love for the sport of cycling. As a member of the Bennington Cycling Club Dan logged thousands of miles, built many lasting friendships, and inspired many other to join him in the sport. Always a lover of the "great outdoors", some of Dan's fondest memories were fishing with his Dad in the lakes near Yosemite National Park and hiking the southern Sierras near Sequoia National Park. Since high school he had a strong affinity for cars and loved the fact that his career actually ended up supplying parts for the automobile industry. He leaves his wife, Heather Maneely of Bennington; four children, Sean C. Maneely of Hilo, Hawaii, David L. Maneely of San Pedro, Calif., Jason W. Andrick and his wife, Tonya of Shaftsbury and Ellen K. Andrick of Belmont, Mass.; a grandson, Carson Andrick of Shaftsbury; his step-mother of 60 years, Leila Maneely of Paradise, Calif.; and three nieces. In addition to his parents Dan was predeceased by a brother, Colin Maneely. FUNERAL NOTICE: Private funeral services will take place at the convenience of the family. Burial will be in the family lot in Park Lawn Cemetery in the spring. Should friends desire contributions in Daniel J. Maneely's memory they may be made to either Southwestern Vermont Medical Center or to the Lance Armstrong Foundation through the office of the Mahar & Son funeral Home, 628 Main Street, Bennington, VT 05201. Guest book condolences may be made at www.maharandsonfuneralhome.net