Nancy Lucisano McManus

1947 - 2022

McManus

Nancy Lucisano McManus (Age 75)

Of Bethesda, passed away August 30, 2022 of non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Born April 3, 1947, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to Frank and Barbara (Yancey) Lucisano, Nancy spent most of her early years in West Orange, New Jersey. A 1968 graduate of Dunbarton College of Holy Cross in Washington, DC, she remained in the Washington area and later received a Master of Library Sciences degree from Catholic University. Her first marriage to the late John Carmichael ended in divorce.

Nancy met her husband, Robert J. McManus (whom she called "Mac"), on a blind date in 1977 and they married in January, 1979. In addition to Mac, Nancy is survived by: her devoted daughter Lillian F. ("Lily") McManus of Washington, DC, her stepson John D. McManus of New York City, her brother Joseph (Jennifer) Lucisano of Houston, her sister Susan Green of San Diego, and her nieces and nephews Amelia (Lucas) Lucisano, Anthony (Jaqueline) Lucisano, Dominic (Kelsey) Lucisano and Jack and Connor Green. She is predeceased by her younger daughter Katherine Jane ("Katie") McManus, who died as a passenger in a single-car accident on August 13, 2007, while working on St. John, USVI, after graduating from college..

Nancy worked for much of her adult life in the non-profit sector, in the early years with the Social Science Research Council and later the American Political Science Association. Most significantly, in the two decades preceding her retirement in 2012 she served as the National Administrator of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science college honor society, whose McManus Washington Intern Scholarships were named in her honor.

Nancy was first diagnosed in 2007, but mild chemotherapy and several bouts of spot radiation permitted her to lead a full life, virtually free of symptoms until this year. During this time, she was an avid tennis player and occasional scuba diver. She took particular pleasure in her travels with Mac on five continents, which included a tour of India (in which she held an abiding interest), the Galapagos, diving with sharks on the Great Barrier Reef, a spectacular African safari, plus numerous Caribbean and European jaunts (including a quick trip across the Strait of Messina to set foot in Calabria, source of her paternal roots).

Nancy's family and many friends will remember her as unfailingly graceful and gracious, socially adroit, smart and funny, as well as being a superb hostess and chef. Whenever her young daughters would complain about boredom or some other scourge of youth, Nancy would often encourage them to "go put some good into the world." That is what she did, every day of her admirable life.

A celebration of Nancy's life will be held at a later date. Contributions in her memory to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society will be appreciated.