Scott Manning, 1962-2008
Willingboro Astronomical Society
www.wasociety.us
Last updated 7.02.2008
We were
deeply saddened to hear that Scott Manning, a long-term member and past
president of the Willingboro Astronomical Society, passed away unexpectedly on
June 10, 2008. A collection of photos follows this reflection by lifetime
member Lane Davis...
When Scott first
joined our club many years ago, he brought with him little knowledge of
astronomy but a deep interest – that's how most of us started.
One thing that
made Scott different, however, was the speed with which he learned and the
amount of his newly-acquired knowledge he retained. He was much faster than most
of us. This was a strong ability that served Scott very well throughout his
short life on Earth. I remember when he decided to switch to a new career in
computers – I had been working with computers for about 10 years and he
constantly drilled me for information. What surprised me was how quickly he
began to pass my knowledge base and move on. One of the things Scott and I
shared in common was our commitment to never stop learning and, over the years,
we never tired of discussing computers and sharing our latest experiences.
But his real
strengths were imbedded in his personality. He was always willing to share his
knowledge and help others. He was very patient with others and could simplify
things without talking down. As he gained knowledge and experience with
computers, he co-founded a very successful weekly radio show to teach young
people about computers. He went beyond the average to share his knowledge. I
listened to his show many times and occasionally I would get a cell phone call
from Scott during one of his shows with a question. Sometimes I knew the answer,
sometimes I didn't.
His learning and
sharing abilities were two of the things I knew well about Scott but my
strongest feeling about Scott could be summarized this way – we resonated – and
I think that was probably true for many of his acquaintances and friends.
Whether it was sharing new knowledge and experiences or planning our next “road
trip”, whatever I did with Scott, I always felt that I was working with a team
member, someone I could trust and depend on.
As for Scott’s
feelings – I know best about his love life. Romantically, Scott’s life had been
a bumpy road until he met his future wife, Betsy. As I began to hear about her,
I was apprehensive but once I met Betsy, I knew they fit together. I don’t know
why – I just knew it. Time showed that they were really right for each others.
Since Scott’s death, we have heard eloquently from Betsy about all that Scott
meant to her and added to her life but I want to take this chance to thank her
for all she meant to Scott and all she added to Scott’s life. I never tired of
listening to Scott describe what Betsy was doing, what they had done together
and how he felt about her. We have lost a remarkable person from our ranks – we
have also lost a grand teammate and friend but all that pales in comparison to
Betsy’s loss.
I don't know if
there is an afterlife but if there is, among the first people I'm going to look
for will be Scott.
