St. Albans - Richard V. Manahan Jr. “Rick”, 51, President of Peoples Trust Company of St. Albans, passed away suddenly on August 16, 2010 in St. Albans, VT. Rick was born May 2, 1959 to Richard and Claire Manahan and is survived by his wife of 26 years, Heidi Shinkle Manahan.
Rick attended St. Mary’s Grade School, St. Albans City School, and graduated from Bellows Free Academy in 1977. He followed his grandfather, father, and uncles to St. Michael’s College before receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Thomas More College in Ft. Mitchell, Ky. It was there that he met Heidi and brought her back to “God’s Country”, Vermont, where they married and raised their four children.
Having started at the bank in 1983, Rick succeeded his father Richard “Vinnie” Manahan Sr. as President of Peoples Trust Company in 1989. At age 30, he was the youngest bank president in Vermont. He proudly continued the “Bank with a Heart” tradition.
Rick’s career was long and successful. He was active in his community and enjoyed participating in many organizations and committees including VBA Government Relations Committee, VT Bank Service Corp., VT Business Roundtable, Franklin County Workforce Investment Board, St. Albans For the Future, Vermont State Board of Education, treasurer of Fairfield Pond Recreation Association, Director for Science and Education Center, Director of Sweat-Comings, Franklin Grand Isle Mental Health, the advisory committee for the Franklin County Senior Center, Opportunities for Grow, and a director for the publication The Optimist.
A proud 5th generation Vermonter, Rick could typically be found at home on French Hill with his family, tending to the horses he raised with Heidi, paddling or relaxing at his family camp on Fairfield pond, loyally accompanied by his seven month old puppy Jai wherever he went.
He was very supportive of many community events and sports activities, especially the St. Albans Little League, the Steelers Football program, and BFA Comet Hockey.
He was an avid and passionate Boston Bruins fan who waited patiently for that elusive Stanley Cup. He enjoyed the competitive spirit and “friendly” banter of a few life time bets. His children look forward to continuing this tradition. Rick cheered for the New England Patriots and was one of a select few enlightened New York Mets fans here in Northern Vermont.
Canoeing and Kayaking were a favorite passion of his with many hours being spent on the pond in Fairfield. He got the opportunity on the French Hill family farm to embrace his love of horses. Much to the dismay of his wife and the Boston Tailoring Cleaners, he was often seen on his tractor or mucking the stalls while still in his “banker’s suit”. Every year he looked forward to his camping trip with his “Mustafa.” He often completed the week with the Saturday night crew playing cards and vying for the esteemed “Pig” trophy.
In addition to his wife Heidi, Rick is survived by his children Danielle Elizabeth, Eric Matthew, Sarah Jeanette, and Caitlin Claire all of St. Albans, as well as his mother Claire, sister Kathleen, brother Michael “Quicky” and his wife JoAnn, his sister Mary and her husband Harold Ryan and many nieces and nephews. In addition he leaves behind several aunts and uncles, John and Teresa Manahan, Anne and William Peters, Ronald and Alice L’Ecuyer, Richard and Sandy L’Ecuyer. Also surviving are brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Leo E. Shinkle Jr. and wife Jackie, Felicia Shinkle Binder, Joseph Shinkle, Margaret Bastin Autry, his father-in-law Leo Shinkle Sr. and Heidi’s step-father Robert E. Bastin. Rick is also survived by many close cousins who will miss him dearly.
Rick was preceded in death by his father Richard Sr., his uncle James E. Manahan Jr., and his Aunt Constance and her husband Leo Irish.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, August 21, 2010 at 11:00 A.M. in St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, Fairfield Street, St. Albans. Interment will follow in the Manahan family lot in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends may call at the Heald Funeral Home, 87 so. Main St., St. Albans on Friday from 3:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Rick Manahan Memorial Fund, c/o Peoples Trust Company, Kingman Street, St. Albans, Vt 05478. Condolences and memories may be sent to the family through
www.healdfuneralhome.com .
