Richard C. Manson Jr.

MANSON, Richard C., Jr., of Richmond, Va., passed away August 14, 2021.

Richard was born in Richmond to Dr. R. Campbell Manson and Mary Katharine Taylor on October 2, 1942. After graduating from St. Christopher's School in 1961, he attended Hampden-Sydney College, where he played varsity baseball and was Director of Intramural Athletics, graduating in 1965. He received his law degree from the University of Virginia in 1968.

Following law school, he moved to Chicago to attend Northwestern's National Graduate Trust School, although he probably spent more time at Wrigley Field than in seminars. He then moved to Pittsburgh to join the estate section of Pittsburgh National Bank, although he also spent a lot of time at Forbes Field. He returned to Richmond in 1970 and helped start the law firm of Dorset, Manson & Johnston in 1974.

In 1994, the judges of the Circuit Court appointed Richard as Commissioner of Accounts for the City of Richmond. He also served as Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Judicial Council of Virginia.

Richard was a member of the Commonwealth Club and the Country Club of Virginia and served as a Trustee of Theatre Virginia at the Virginia Museum. He was a past Chair of the annual funds at St. Christopher's School and Hampden-Sydney College.

Sports were always Richard's greatest delight. He was a lifelong Pittsburgh Pirates fan who adopted the Washington Nationals later in life. He was an avid golfer who cherished his membership at Panmure Golf Club in Carnoustie, Scotland, and his hundreds of rounds on Scotland's and Ireland's top courses nearly as much as he treasured golf adventures closer to home with the legendary Shankers group. The annual Cherry Grove Beach Invitational at a selection of the Northern Neck's finest courses and taverns was always a springtime highlight. For 19 years, he was a professional basketball scout for Bertka Views, a scouting service associated with the Los Angeles Lakers. He also loved horse racing, NASCAR, ice hockey and college sports of every variety, and he was one of Richmond's top collectors of sports memorabilia.

His strongest sporting passion was for the University of Virginia, rising and falling with the Cavaliers' football, basketball and baseball teams at ACC tournaments, NCAA championships, bowl games and college world series through the years.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Sharon Manson, who died in 2007; and was previously married to The Reverend Anne L.Y. Manson. He is survived by his son, Marshall Manson (Stephanie) of London; stepdaughter, Andrea Wherry (Matt); and stepson, Ted Palat (Pauline) of Richmond; grandchildren, Evelyn Wherry, Lawler Wherry, James Palat and Josephine Palat; and sister, Susan Newell (John) of Ashland.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, August 20, at River Road Church, Baptist, 8000 River Rd., Richmond, with reception to follow at The Country Club of Virginia, 6031 St. Andrews Lane, Richmond.

In lieu of flowers, Richard asked that donations be made to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, N.Y.