Harold H. Manker, 82, died on Sunday, October 8, 2017 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer. He is survived by his wife, Toby Jean, daughter Tamara Gates with domestic partner Douglas Weeks and son Brian with wife Katherine Gradojevich-Manker. He is also survived by grandchildren Charles, Richard, and Sophie Manker. Still living are his sister Eva Lou Koons of Liberal, KS and brother, Ralph Manker of Torrance, CA, as well as by many nieces and nephews. Harold was a retired IBM employee. He loved music and was an active participant in various church choirs, choral groups, and the Tri-Cities Opera chorus. In recent years he was board chair of the Phelps Mansion Museum and received the Broome County Arts Council “Heart of the Arts” award for his work in furthering a chamber concert series and the museum’s New York State Absolute Charter. The family would like to thank the staff and volunteers of Lourdes at Home, Lourdes Hospice, Mercy House and Allen Memorial Home Inc. for all their kindness and help during this long struggle.
A Private family burial took place at Vestal Hills Memorial Park Cemetery. A regularly scheduled concert at the Phelps Mansion Museum on Sunday, November 12 at 3 pm will be dedicated to Harold. The family would be happy to see friends there and to greet them at an after concert reception at 5:15 pm. The concert will be a celebration of a kindly life well-lived, a life of profound dedication to work, music, family, and quietly helping others. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Phelps Mansion Museum, the Binghamton Philharmonic, or Tri-Cities Opera.