Harold Mann

Harold Mann passed away on December 16, 2007 at the LifePath Hospice in Tampa, FL. Funeral services will be 10:30am Thursday, December 20, at The Louis Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Ave. Burial at Rose Hill Cemetery. Kindly omit flowers, the family suggests contributions to Kansas City Hospice, Jewish War Veterans, The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah or a charity of one’s choice.
He was born in Boston, MA to Edith and Israel Manevitch on April 18, 1921. He led a life filled with love and adventure.
At 18 he joined the Army and lived all over the United States and Europe. He was a member of the U.S. Army 8th Air Corp 92nd Bomber Group during WWII and flew 30 missions over Germany as a gunner.
Harold married Sylvia Kaplan, the love of his life, just four months after their first date, on October 6, 1946.
They owned and operated a filling station in Boston until Harold was recalled into the service during the Korean Conflict. Harold was inducted into the Air Force and the
family moved to Germany, and subsequently many other locations.
After retirement in 1965, Harold began his second career at TWA and moved to the Kansas City area with his family, where he has remained since his retirement.
Harold was a wonderful human being. He was very courageous, quick and smart. He maintained his curiosity and interest in the world and all of its riches all of his life.
He was a Pied Piper; both people and animals charmed by his charisma. He always had an animal by his side. He was non-judgmental and always open and excited by new ideas and
people. He was a lifelong learner, taking college and Temple classes, music lessons, and attending elder hostels with Sylvia.
He loved to read and discuss books, live theater, movies, food, martinis, ballet, playing cards, sports, fishing, gardening, crossword puzzles, politics and current events, music, especially Frank and Louie, and Jewish history and culture. Harold and
Sylvia loved to dance together and did so frequently.
He could fix anything. He fixed and made watches for over 50 years. He was a skilled and accomplished athlete, beginning with his Boston football hero days as Harold “Zeke” Mann, and on through his mid-seventies, winning many 10k trophies and medals. Harold was a committed volunteer. His good works included: quartermaster and former commander of the Jewish War Veterans Mo-Kan Post 605; 20 year volunteer for the VA Hospital pharmacy and psychiatric unit; election supervisor; holiday gift wrapping for the City of Hope; and historian of the ROMEOS (Retired Old Men’s Eating Organization). Most
of all he loved his family and good conversation. He was an excellent story teller, loved to tell jokes, and was blessed with perfect timing.
The world is a much darker and less interesting place without Harold. He was preceded in death by his dear wife Sylvia in 2003, his son Alex in 2000, his sisters Helen and Laura and his brother Norman. He leaves to mourn him his son and daughter-in-law: Barry and Susan Mann of Tampa, FL; his daughter Deborah Mann, of Berkeley, CA; his grandchildren Joseph and Karen Mann of Tampa, FL; his sister Ruth Freedman of Marlboro,
MA and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.