Victoria Ann McManus age 26, died unexpectedly on May 14, 2014 in Chicago where she had resided the past four years. Beloved daughter of Peter McManus and Ann Beach, Sharon MA and sister to Caroline McManus, Sharon, MA and Katherine McManus, Sharon, MA. Victoria attended the Emma Willard School in Troy, NY and graduated from Sharon High School in 2005. She graduated from Emory University in 2009 where she majored in history and minored in African American Studies. She was the recipient of the James F. Zabun prize awarded annually to the graduating senior history major in Emory College who has achieved the best overall record in American history courses.
Victoria had a life-long passion for history. She had a profound sensitivity to the inequalities and injustices of the modern world. She passionately believed in making this world a better place as demonstrated by her spending a year teaching some of this country’s most neglected high school children in rural Louisiana. Upon moving to Chicago she continued to tutor and work with school-aged children. She had recently accepted admission to the Masters in Public History at Loyola, Chicago, where her powerful mind was prepared to flower.
A gifted student and intellectual, Victoria was a voracious reader. She was a talented writer and artist who delighted her friends worldwide with her ideas and creations. Her wry sense of humor and keen observation of life were appreciated by all who knew her. She had an unparalleled sense of adventure and loved to explore archives, architecture and nature with equal zeal. She was infamous for her insistence on walking everywhere: she left miles of footprints in any city where she lived or visited, soaking in a joyous solitude from city streets. All who met her were touched by her kindness, bravery and independence of spirit. Simply put, she was the smartest, bravest, most beautiful friend anyone could have. She has a vast constellation of friends who will miss her deeply.
In addition to the members of her immediate family, she is survived by her maternal grandfather, John A. Beach and his wife Joyce of Bonita Spring, FL. Also survived by her Aunt Kate McManus and Uncle Sandy MacLeod of West Roxbury, MA, Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Michael Welcome of Larchmont, NY, Aunt Ellen Mares of Forest Hills, NY, Uncle George Beach of Slingerlands, NY, Sally Bishop of PA and Florence McManus of AZ and first cousins Tara McManus, Kinsey McManus, James Welcome, Charlie Welcome, Juliet Welcome, Isabel Mares and Emma Mares. She was predeceased by her maternal grandmother Victoria Gorcoff Beach and her paternal grandparents John and Ruth McManus and her uncle Terry McManus.
Visiting hours at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home 455 Washington St. Canton Monday 4-8 pm. Relatives and friends invited to attend a funeral service at the First Congregational Church 29 N. Main St. Sharon Tuesday morning at 11. Burial Rock Ridge Cemetery, Sharon. In lieu of flowers, family and friends wish to establish a scholarship in Victoria’s honor to the MA in Public History program at Loyola University in Chicago where she was to matriculate this coming fall. Checks should be made payable to Loyola University Chicago with “In Honor of Victoria McManus” on the memo line. Please mail checks to Kurt Peterson, Director of Development, Loyola University Chicago, 820 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60625. You can also give online at www.luc.edu/giving (do not direct your gift to a particular area, but indicate that it is a “tribute gift” and simply write “Victoria McManus” in the appropriate box).