In the loving arms of his devoted wife Olga, the husband, the father, the grandfather, the friend, the protector, the mentor, the teacher, the legend and icon Judge Jeffrey A. Manning passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024.
Judge Manning’s incomparable tenure on the bench of the Fifth Judicial District for over three decades as Judge, Administrative Judge and unanimously elected by his peers as President Judge and then granted the title of President Judge Emeritus were accomplishments that he was very proud of. He took great pride in being a public servant. He was an advocate for victims’ and victims families but he also cared about the circ*mstances that brought the public before him.
Never a day went by when he was either addressed on the street or paid a visit in Chambers where a prior defendant would stop him to express their appreciation for believing in them and giving them a chance to better their lives. Military personnel, Master’s and PhD recipients, as well as nurses, engineers, artists and entrepreneurs are all success stories defendants wanted him to be aware of. Judge Manning would humbly walk away with tears welling up in his eyes as these stories reminded him of the power of the position and its impact, something he took very seriously. His compassion knew no bounds.
He cared so much more about the judicial system than the titles bestowed upon him yet he took advantage of the titles to make the system better. Never a notch on his resume but an avenue by which he could implement better protocols.Judge Manning’s command of a courtroom was beyond compare. He demanded courtroom decorum and respect from all that appeared before him no matter who they were.
He was always available to anyone to lend an ear, render advice, and make hard decisions. His Chambers door was always open, he welcomed all. He so enjoyed the camaraderie of the bench and the bar of attorneys. At conferences he loved playing guitar and singing as well as karaoke and telling stories of past cases, never missing a detail from the parties’ involved to the evidentiary issues argued. His attention to rules, details and instant recollection thereof was unmatched and admired by all.
What Judge Manning enjoyed the most was being a husband, a father, a grandfather and a friend. His loyalty and love was felt deeply by them all. He was steadfastly devoted to his family and friends.
No words can adequately describe the impact he had on those he loved. Accolades of his legal acumen and brilliant mind are well documented, what is not documented is the loving man that would anxiously await the arrival of his grandchildren so they could sit on the couch with him and his guitar and sing nursery rhymes together, “The Tale of Rindercella” was especially loved by his grandchildren. Their giggles and smiles made his life more fulfilling than any case he had ever presided over. He was so much more to so many than Judge Jeffrey A. Manning. His laugh was infectious and his love contagious. He had a remarkable sense of humor, often delighting in cheesy jokes and puns that left him in stitches, with the occasional snort, causing all around him to burst into laughter.
Jeffrey profoundly loved and adored his wife Olga, anyone that was around them could see their mutual devotion. They loved and protected each other fiercely, supported each other unconditionally, respected each completely and were each other’s greatest advocate. He cherished his children Richard and Astrid and was a devoted father, they were the light of his life. He instilled in them the importance of dressing appropriately, practicing proper etiquette, choosing words carefully and being kind. He taught them to always do the right thing, try their best and never give up.
Jeffrey’s impact and presence in the lives of many on and off the bench, will be sorely missed. He leaves an indelible void in the hearts of all those that knew him.
Judge Manning was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth and Richard Manning. He is survived by his wife Olga, son Richard (Sarah), daughter Astrid (Cydney), sister Susan Biehl, sister-in-law Pia DiSanto (John) and many nieces and nephews. His legacy will live on through his grandchildren, James, Madeline, Elisabeth and Isaac.
Family and friends welcome Sunday, August 18th and Monday, August 19th 2-4 & 7-9 pm WILLIAM SLATER II FUNERAL SERVICE (412-563-2800) 1650 Greentree Rd., Scott Twp. 15220. Funeral Mass Tuesday, August 20th 10:00 am in St. Michael the Archangel Parish, St. Bernard Church with Bishop David Bonnar presiding. Entombment to follow in Mount Lebanon Cemetery www.slaterfuneral.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Judge Jeffrey A. Manning, please visit our flower store.
