Obituary of Henry Mann

Henry Mann peacefully passed away on December 10, 2024, at the age of 90.   He was born in Lowell, MA to Orison Mann and Catherine Mann.

In his youth, he served as an Altar Boy and liked to play street ball and pinochle with his friends. He learned to read from comic books. When he was 17, on a dare, he and two friends enlisted with an Army recruitment office. When the day arrived to report to duty, he was the only one of the three that showed up! He joined the Army Airborne 187. He was decorated and earned his Parachute badge, Army of Occupation Medal (in Germany), Korean Service Medal with two bronze service stars and the National Defense service medal. His most significant duty assignment was Quarter Master Aerial Supply company.

After completing his tour in 1953 he was recruited by Nasson College where he studied science but focused more on the chemistry of beermaking and comic relief. At Nasson College he met his love and companion for life, Marlene, known to him as “Tib”. They married in 1956 and soon added to their family. He completed his Bachelor’s Degree and went on to teach Math and Science in New Hampshire, Connecticut and Maine. His teaching career was followed by his career at the DEP of Maine. He joined the DEP as a chemist and worked his way up to assistant to the Commissioner. While at the DEP he was instrumental in developing and implementing policy. He was a member of a committee in 1970/71 that studied the health of the lakes and introduced the Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program, a plan that is implemented by many lakes today.

In addition to working with the DEP he was very involved in his five children’s school and extracurricular activities. He coached little league, basketball, was a PTA volunteer and supported their academic pursuits. During that time, he also completed his master’s degree at the University of Orono.

After retiring from the DEP, he and his wife, “Tib” travelled, took up snowmobiling, babysat the many grandchildren that came along and took up wild blueberry farming. He found that he enjoyed the science of growing blueberries. He was an active member of the Maine Blueberry Coop and represented Maine Wild Blueberries at the Big E events.

He is survived by his wife of 67+ years, Marlene Mann; his children: Brian (Donna) Mann, Marlene (Pete) Bottomley, Natalie Mann, Glenn Mann, Henry Mann; his grandchildren: Tonya, Devon, Sarina, Thomas, Isaac, Jessica, James, Zachary, Amanda and great grandchild, Jennifer; his brother, James Mann and several nieces and nephews. A private celebration of life will be held by his family. We will always hold him dear in our hearts. Thank you to the many kind souls at the Togus VA Hospital and Togus Springs.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.ripostafh.com