James E. McManus Jr., 72, journalist, recovery counselor

James E. McManus Jr.

Was longtime resident of South Salem, Northern Westchester

James Edward McManus Jr., a longtime resident of South Salem died Aug. 2 at his home in Narragansett, R.I. He was 72.

McManus was a journalist and storyteller, entrepreneur, and a recovery counselor. 

His family said that his passions, from his teenage years as a greenskeeper at Waccabuc Country Club through his last months, included golf, shoreline sea fishing, skiing, tennis and reading. 

McManus was born in Queens on Aug. 10, 1953, the second of seven children of the late James E. McManus, M.D., and Shirley (Whelan) McManus. In 1962, the family moved to Katonah, where James McManus attended St. Mary of the Assumption Elementary School through seventh grade. He attended the Harvey School for one year, and was accepted to Phillips Academy Andover for his freshman year in high school, then transferring to John Jay High School and graduating in 1972.

He graduated from Manhattanville College in 1977 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal arts and sciences, general studies and humanities.

His career in local journalism began in 1977 as a piecework reporter for the North County News in Yorktown, covering municipal meetings. In 1978, he earned a staff reporter position at the Lewisboro Ledger, and within a year rose to editor.

In 1984, he and a friend began what would become known as Madigan & McManus, a marketing and communications studio. He left the business in 2007.

In his second career chapter, he trained as an in-patient recovery and rehabilitation counselor, working in Vermont, Florida, New York and Rhode Island.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne (Johnson) McManus; two of his three sons, James and Padraic; his sister, Susan McManus Pickoff; brothers, John, Thomas, Paul, David and Kevin; and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his son, Liam, and his parents.

The family invites friends to join them in a celebration of life ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 23, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Westview Clubhouse, located at 9 Monticello Drive, Brewster.