William Joseph Manson Jr.

Family-Placed Obituary

WILLIAM JOSEPH MANSON, Jr. William Joseph Manson, Jr., 86 years old, of Palm Beach, FL died at his home on Saturday, April 11, 2009, after an extended illness. Born in Angleton, TX, he was the oldest son of the late William Joseph Manson and the late Mary Regina Byrne. Mr. Manson was raised in Philadelphia, PA and entered LaSalle University in 1941. He earned his BA Business Degree in 1949, following his military service. Mr. Manson enlisted in the US Army and was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division as a Master Parachutist. He was promoted to Sergeant and fought in the Battle of the Bulge and remained with the Army of Occupation in Frankfurt, Germany. After the war ended, Mr. Manson helped to form a swim team to compete with other units in Europe, winning the European Championship. Mr. Manson had a prestigious military career and his unit earned several commendations including the Army Presidential Unit Citation, the Order of Wilhelm Citation, the French Croix de Guerre, the Belgian Croix de Guerre and the Battle of the Bulge Ribbon. He also served in General Eisenhower's personal detail. Mr. Manson joined the CIA in 1962 and had an adventurous career until his separation in the late 1960's. In 1979, Mr. Manson retired from Marsh & McLennan as a vice president of Latin America. He then founded a specialized insurance brokerage that is still in operation. Mr. Manson was a member of the Union League Club of New York, the Special Forces Club of London, England, the Circumnavigator's Club, the Sailfish Club and the Beach Club, of Palm Beach, FL. He is survived by his loving wife of twenty-five years, Anne; his sister, Natalie Susanin of Chestnut Hill, PA; his daughters, Lisa Manson Degen of Rye, NY and Amy Manson Keating of Frederick, MD; his former wife, Geraldine Manson of Rye, NY and his step-children, Chris Hanson of Largo, FL, Todd Axt and Kyle Bloom of Rumson, NJ. He was the proud grandfather of six grandchildren and five step-grandchildren, Sarah Keating, Katie Keating, Billy Degen, Brian Degen, Witmer Keating, Jack Degen and Adam Hanson, Alexandra Axt, Taylor Bloom, Kendall Axt and Bailey Bloom. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at St. Edward Catholic Church, 144 N. County Road, Palm Beach, Florida 33480. Quattlebaum Funeral & Cremation Services Family Owned and Operated (561) 832-5171 To express condolences and/or make donations Visit PalmBeachPost.com/obituaries