Michael J. McManus, beloved husband for 60 years to Harriet McManus, whom he adored, and father to Adam McManus, John McManus and Tim McManus, entered his eternal reward on July 5, 2026, at age 85. He is also survived by his brother Tim McManus of Denver, Colorado, three daughters-in-law: Amy, Melissa and Holly, and nine grandchildren: Jack, Olivia, Finnegan, Max, Georgia, Ava, Honor, Mercy and Valor. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Ruth, and his sisters Anne and Martha.
McManus earned his bachelor’s degree from Duke University in 1963 and then worked for Time Magazine first as a foreign correspondent in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and later in Washington, D.C., covering developments of the Great Society programs. He wrote two cover stories for Time Magazine, including one on HEW Secretary John Gardner.
In 1973, he organized a public participation campaign, “Choices for ‘76” to engage the New York Metropolitan region in policy issues as the U.S. approached its Bicentennial. The project aimed to spark public debate on issues affecting the tri-state area — housing, transportation, poverty and urban growth — and to collect public opinion on possible tradeoffs.
McManus spent most of his career as a self-syndicated columnist, publishing weekly opinion columns in small and midsize newspapers across the country. His first column, “The Northern Perspective,” focused on ideas to revitalize industrialized cities in the northeast suffering from plant closures and unemployment. That column was later renamed “Solutions,” and offered policy ideas on a variety of issues confronting the country. Inspired by the preaching of Father Terry Fullam at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Darien, Connecticut, he began writing his most cherished column, published for nearly 40 years, “Ethics & Religion,” which covered news developments in various Christian denominations, as well as ethical issues ranging from pornography, abortion, gun control and ideas to promote marriage. At its height, his columns were published in over 100 newspapers nationally.
In 1993, he published “Marriage Savers: Helping Your Friends and Family Stay Married.” Other books on marriage followed, including “Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers” and “How to Cut America’s Divorce Rate in Half.” Cognizant of Malachi 2:16 in which God says he “hates divorce,” McManus’ passion on the issue led to his founding of the non-profit Marriage Savers, he operated with his wife. They created “Community Marriage Policies,” working with churches in many cities across the country to help form and maintain successful marriages and trained volunteer mentors to assist couples in troubled marriages. Mike and Harriet travelled the country speaking to churches in various communities on how they could strengthen marriages, as well as personally mentoring many young couples.
Having always aspired to live on the water, in 2020 he and Harriet moved from Potomac, Maryland, into his dream home in Kilmarnock, Virginia, just 50 feet from Indian Creek that fed into the Chesapeake Bay. A great day for him was enjoying the view from his leather chair, reading the paper, listening to classical music, and talking with Harriet, the light of his life.
McManus lived by a motto he had hanging in his home office: “Optimism doesn’t wait on facts; it deals with prospects. Pessimism is a waste of time.” Indeed, his life is a legacy of a Biblical call to make a positive difference. He can echo the words of Apostle Paul who wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2 Timothy 4:7–8).
In lieu of flowers, contributions would be appreciated to Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research, 320 Ohio St., #300, Chicago, IL 60654 or Falls Church Anglican Church, 6565 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042.
