Peter Michael de Manio

Peter Michael de Manio, a longtime resident of Sarasota, FL, died on March 20, 2008 in Bedford, MA, after a long battle with cancer. Peter will be remembered as the father of rowing in Sarasota, where he founded his first rowing program, the Sarasota Scullers, in his backyard in 1990, followed by the Sarasota Scullers Youth Rowing Program in 1991 and Osprey Oars in 2003. For eighteen years Peter coached and mentored hundreds of students from area high schools. In addition to his programs' impressive record of athletic achievement which included many state, regional, and national championships, Peter was particularly proud of his former students who went on to win world championships and Olympic medals. Peter's programs emphasized commitment to high standards and excellence, not only in rowing, but in all facets of life. For many this translated into realizing the dream of college and successful careers afterwards. Peter was born in New York City on Oct. 9, 1935. After being graduated from the University of Pennsylvania ('63) and the Washington and Lee Law School ('66), he lived in Winter Park, and then, since 1977, in Sarasota. Before his career in law, Peter served as lieutenant in the Army and pursued acting on stage and film, including a starring role in Walt Disney's, "Varda, the Peregrine Falcon." Peter was a distinguished trial lawyer and mediator for many years, taught trial advocacy, and served for five years as a circuit judge in Orange County. A passionate man of many interests, he raced Thistles and Star boats to several championships, enjoyed chess, and loved travel, history, literature, and languages. As a master rower, Peter successfully competed at the national level, winning a championship in the single scull in 1991. He is survived by his beloved wife of forty-two years, Elizabeth Cragg de Manio, a realtor with Coldwell Banker of Sarasota, his twin daughters Jacqueline de Manio Eberley and her husband Robert Eberley of Tenafly, NJ, and Genevieve de Manio and her husband Timothy Downing of Carlisle, MA, his son Dinko Vucemilovic of New York, and by seven grandchildren. He was the son of Jack de Manio, a well-known British radio personality, and Juliet Marie Kaufman of New York City and Palm Beach, FL. In 2008, Mr. de Manio moved to Bedford, MA, in order to be closer to his family. The family is planning a "Celebration of Life" service in Sarasota, FL in mid-April.