Maurice Michael Manning was born December 19, 1964 to Ann and Dean Manning. He was the only son in a family of ten children. Yes; nine girls and the one boy. No, he was not the youngest. He was, however, the center of the family by virtue of being the one boy but also because he was the first to seek out adventure anywhere he could find it on our 128-acre family farm in Danville, Ohio and pull in any sister who was willing to follow along. Sometimes there was more pulling than willingness. What his sisters always knew was that he loved us unconditionally from the moment we were together in this world and that he was our champion. It was on the farm where Maurice’s love for natural beauty and exploring the world were first developed. Throughout his too short life, he always led with a curious mind, restless heart, and a relentless pursuit of knowledge.

 

When his son Richard became a part of his world, Maurice found true joy and together they sought out every sporting event, opportunity to travel together, and place to explore. Maurice loved sharing the farm with Richard but he also was happy joining him in a pickup basketball game in the park, cheering Richard on in water polo, hiking Machu Picchu together, and singing along to their favorite songs. Richard’s wedding to Maurice’s new daughter-in-law, Nikki, provided us the last opportunity to be together, for which we are so grateful.

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All too late, Maurice met his wife, Vanessa. She was his partner who understood his steely determination, his wanderlust, his need for silence with the paper and a cup of coffee, as much as his need to discuss current events. Maurice captured their adventures in pictures, sharing the natural beauty that moved him, from an old growth tree to rock formations to oceans and rivers. He immersed himself in learning new cultures and finding local haunts wherever he went.

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Maurice was a scientist. He loved understanding how to solve complex problems and craved the data and technology for greater innovation. He loved to share news of innovation and discovery with family, often posting news links on the family group text. We frequently understood very little of the complex subjects but tried to offer adequate responses. Maurice had a knack for working in unique locations, from the Pentagon to an ocean front office at UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography, to Hawaii and UC Berkley, to AI Singapore hosted by the National University of Singapore. Many of his friends and coworkers have shared with us that he was a generous mentor and colleague, always willing to offer support, ideas, and encouragement. To those who worked with him, you should know that he was in awe of the brilliant people he encountered throughout his career.

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Running was his passion. He ran marathons occasionally but he mostly ran for the joy of competing against his previous times. One of his last runs in Singapore he posted his time in the family group text: 8.62 miles, 8:59 min/mile, and 91 degrees Fahrenheit with the note “guess who is having a cold beer and glass of Jameson tonight.”

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Maurice was killed in a traffic accident in Singapore on April 15, 2021. He was a man so full of life that it still seems impossible that he could be taken so suddenly from all those who loved him. There was something for everyone to love about Maurice. He was a guys’ guy who followed sports around the world, he was an adventurer, he appreciated quiet – often finding the chaos and noise of his sisters a bit much, but when he joined in telling a story his boisterous laugh could be heard above all the other sounds, he was an athlete, he cooked straight-forward food and would try any cuisine but particularly liked open air markets and dives, he kept his life simple so he could think complex thoughts, he loved deeply, he was a devoted son who never failed to call no matter where he was in the world -- one of his last messages was to his Mom commenting on the pitching performance of her favorite team, the Cleveland Indians, he wished his brothers-in-law Happy Fathers’ Day and told them how awesome they were, he was the cool uncle, he spent time with cousins and established a bond with his extended family. He was not perfect and he would be the first to tell you so, but he was perfect to us. 

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He is survived by his parents, his wife and son, his sisters, brothers-in-law, and numerous nieces and nephews. His grandparents, Clarence and Helen Blanchard of Danville, Ohio and Eugene and Isabelle Manning of Sioux Falls, South Dakota were farmers who predeceased him. From them he learned the importance of family, fair play, and approaching nature with respect and wonder.

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To honor his memory his family is establishing a foundation that will support efforts protecting the natural environment around the world that he loved and encouraging an interest in technology fields that promote innovation. His travels were not done and his work was not finished but we hope that this effort extends his legacy to others who share his love of exploration.