Obituary of Andrew McManus

Andrew McManus died suddenly on December 21, 2025 at the age of 66. Andy was born on November 21, 1959 in Newark, NJ, the youngest child of Andy and Margaret McManus. Andy grew up on William Street in Belleville, NJ. He attended St. Peter’s School where he received First Communion and Confirmation. He took the saint’s name Richard for his Confirmation name, and his lifelong friend Richard Cowen chose the name Andrew. Andy attended Essex Catholic High School, graduating in 1977. While at Essex, Andy made new lifelong friends, among them most prominently, Joe Caputo and John Griggs. Andy continued his education at Rutgers University in Newark, graduating in 1982 with a degree in Accounting. 

Family was important to Andy. His parents were born in Ireland and moved to England after the war where they married and had their first three children. The family came to Newark in 1957 and shortly thereafter, one sister was born and Andy followed a year later, after the family moved to Belleville. A quiet but funny guy, Andy specialized in imitating Irish accents. He had many cousins in America, Ireland, and England. He got to meet them many times, visiting Ireland in 1983 and England in 1999. During the trip to England, besides visiting the McManus cousins, he took a side trip on his own to explore a few cities in Scotland. When his cousin Anthony McManus was visiting the USA from England, Andy brought him to see Bruce Springsteen in Maryland.  They were both big Bruce fans.

Music was his great passion from a young age, starting with the Irish music played in the home. He listened to music his older brothers played and learned to love rock music, starting with The Beatles. His love for music soon progressed to learning to play guitar when he was about 15, largely self-taught. Music was a constant in Andy’s life. He played with many musicians over the years, most recently performing at a venue in Maplewood just days before he died. He was known to bring his guitar along to gatherings with friends and family, finding happiness in sharing something that meant the most to him.  

Andy’s career was largely in the shipping industry. His earliest and longest stint was at Maersk in Madison. Other places included R L Supply in Lodi, and most recently Pet Drop Shipper in Fairfield. Andy was hard working, bright, punctual, and detail oriented in his employment. He also spent time after Maersk living near the Day family in Virginia working at a farm stand. 

Andy is survived by his loving family: siblings Michael (Noreen), Brendan, and Margaret (Jim Conway), his brother-in-law Noel Lenahan, his three nieces Kerry McManus (Hans Ammitzboll), Erin Conway (Conor Morey)and Bridget Conway, and a great nephew, Liam McManus. Andy was predeceased by his parents Andy (1981), Margaret (2005) and sister May Lenahan (2002).  May our dear brother and friend Rest in Peace.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend the visitation for Andrew to be held on Monday, December 29, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vincent Martyr Church, 26 Green Village Road, Madison. For those who wish to attend the mass virtually, please visit www.svmnj.org/livestream-mass

Interment will be held privately for the family.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made in Andy's memory to the Community FoodBank of New Jersey, 31 Evans Terminal Rd #1, Hillside, NJ 07205.