Harry Manbeck

McLean - Harry F. Manbeck, Jr. (98), a prominent U.S. patent attorney, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family in his McLean, Virginia, home on February 19, 2025.

Harry was born June 26, 1926, in Honesdale, Pennsylvania, to the late Harry F. and Pauline H. Manbeck, Sr. He graduated from Honesdale High School at age 16 in 1943 and entered Haverford College in the Fall of 1943 as a freshman majoring in history. He was the highest-ranking student in his Fall semester, which earned him free tuition, room, and board for his Spring 1944 semester.

Harry, anxious to serve in World War II, enlisted in the Army Reserve on January 11, 1944, and was called to active duty when he turned 18 later that year. He entered the U.S. Army Signal Corps on August 14, 1944, as a Private. He was selected by the Army to take engineering courses at the University of Maine in Orono, Maine, and became a Second Lieutenant on May 17, 1946. After leaving the University of Maine, he was sent to Okinawa, Japan, to coordinate the telephone line system where he was put in charge of 60 people. He was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Signal Corps on June 6, 1947, in Fort Lawton, Washington.

He graduated with Highest Honors from Lehigh University in 1949 with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He was then recruited by the General Electric Company (GE) for a management program and went to night school at The George Washington University Law School until he was transferred to GE's Major Appliance business in Louisville, Kentucky. There, he received his L.L.B. with Honors from the University of Louisville in 1954.

After receiving his law degree, he continued with the company as a patent attorney. He rose through the ranks at GE to the position of General Patent Counsel - a position that he held for twenty years. As Patent Counsel, Harry headed one of the largest patent departments in the world and directed the company's patent activities and policies.

On October 11, 1989, Harry was nominated by President George H. W. Bush to the offices of Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, and Assistant Secretary of Commerce of the United States. He received Senate confirmation shortly thereafter and served in those offices until May 1992. Harry then entered private practice, opening an office for Morgan & Finnegan in Washington, D.C. In 1996, he joined the law firm of Rothwell, Figg, Ernst & Manbeck, P.C., also in Washington, D.C., where he remained until his retirement from the practice of law in 2012.

Throughout his legal career, Harry carried out his responsibilities with integrity and a commitment of purpose while maintaining a wonderful sense of humor. As Commissioner, he spearheaded much-needed reform of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office's duty of disclosure rules, and he represented the U.S. in international patent law harmonization negotiations in Europe and with other countries.

Harry was active in numerous American Bar Association groups and professional associations. He served as Chairman of the Section of Intellectual Property Law of the American Bar Association (ABA); President of the Association of Corporate Patent Counsel (ACPC); a Director of the Intellectual Property Owners, Inc.; and a Director of the Bar Association of the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He was also a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and the Connecticut Patent Law Association.

In 1984, he was awarded the Whitney North Seymour Medal of the American Arbitration Association for contributions made to the process of arbitration in the United States.

Harry was an avid golfer and member of Congressional Country Club (Bethesda, Maryland), Westwood Country Club (Vienna, Virginia), Belleair Country Club (Belleair, Florida), The Patterson Club (Fairfield, Connecticut), and The Union League Club (New York, New York). He also loved history, American railroads and trains, bel canto opera, travel, and Philadelphia sports teams, especially the Eagles. He thoroughly enjoyed watching the Eagles dominate in the LIX Super Bowl on February 9, 2025.

Harry is survived by his beloved wife, Julie, and their daughter, Emily; and his children Holley M. Dey (Donald) and Peter C. Manbeck (Alexandra) from his marriage to his late spouse, Lois L. Manbeck. He is also survived by grandchildren Christopher H. Dey (Erin), Douglas A. Dey, James C. Dey, Lara K. Manbeck, and Courtney L. Manbeck, as well as great-granddaughter Cameron P. Dey; sister-in-law Barbara M. Dator (Thomas); brother-in-law J. Andrew McCarthy (Ellen); several nieces and nephews; and his "darling" grand-dog, Lola. Harry was also preceded in death by his in-laws, Richard E. and Christina H. McCarthy, Reverend Stanley and Anna S. Lange, R. David McCarthy, Gwen M. Ingalls (Jack), and Stanley C. Lange (Dorothy).

Arrangements are being made by Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home for Harry's interment at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. At that time, the family will also host a celebration of his life, contributions, and achievements with family, friends, and colleagues.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish may donate in Harry's memory to the Christina H. & Richard E. McCarthy Scholarship Fund at St. Mary's Academy, 10-12 Church St., Glens Falls, New York 12801.