Shirley C. Mangin

Shirley Campbell Mangin
December 7, 1927 – July 14, 2025
Shirley Campbell Mangin, 97, of New Providence, New Jersey, passed away peacefully in her home after a brief illness on July 14, 2025. Surrounded by the love of her children in her final days, Shirley lived a long and full life marked by a vivacious energy and a deep appreciation for family and friends.
Born in her family home in Maplewood, N.J., on December 7, 1927, Shirley was the daughter of Elizabeth Mueller Campbell, a homemaker, and William Campbell, an attorney. Growing up during the Great Depression, she recalled her father at times being paid for his legal work with farm goods-memories she was fond of recalling to family.
Shirley graduated from Columbia High School in Maplewood and then Smith College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics and music. Her love for classical music remained with her throughout her life. As a member of Christ Church, she "rang the bells" for years and carried on that tradition in her final home with the community of Lantern Hill. Following college, she began working in New York City in the financial industry, commuting into the city. That commute is particularly memorable because it was on the train that she met her future husband, Joe. The two married in 1951 and began their life together in an apartment in Orange, New Jersey. They moved to Chatham in 1955 and several years later settled in Summit, where Shirley lived for over five decades until moving to New Providence in 2016.
Shirley and Joe raised three sons. She loved her summer family vacations down at the shore or up at the lake, vacations that always included one or two other families joining the fun in nearby rental homes. Then there was the annual winter vacation where she gallantly donned her short skis and hit the slopes with everyone else, despite liking neither the cold nor traipsing in lots of snow. Anything for her boys.
Throughout her life Shirley remained close to all her relatives. Get-togethers happened regularly throughout the year on holidays, birthdays and other spontaneous gatherings. Notably, for Christmas, Shirley created what became a unique and beloved family gift giving tradition that provided much drama and many laughs it was a high point of Christmas day.
Shirley's community moved well beyond her immediate family and relatives. To say she had a close-knit group of friends is an understatement. Captain of her club's tennis and paddle tennis teams, a numerous bridge groups and endless dinner and cocktail parties she loved life with her friends and knew how to have fun. And those close friendships extended to entire families Shirley was "Aunt Shirley" to dozens of children among her friends' families. Among the many parties throughout the year, one especially cherished event was hosting the annual New Year's Day celebration at her home in Summit, a beloved affair for many years.
She is predeceased by her husband of 53 years, Joe, her son Brooks, her sister Pat and brothers Bill and Don. She is survived by her sons, Scott (Arlene), Jeff (Rebecca) and Peter, her sister-in-law Lydia Campbell, five grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and eleven nieces and nephews.
If you asked her, Shirley would likely credit her long life and mental sharpness to a pint of lager at lunch and an evening whisky cocktail. She will be remembered for her outgoing presence, always sharing exactly what was on her mind and her devotion to those she loved.
Services were private.