Remembrance & Celebration of Life
A Tribute to Gary Anthony Manzullo
Gary Anthony Manzullo was born on October 19, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, to William Francis and Evelyn Pastuck Manzullo. Growing up in Brooklyn and Queens, Gary was surrounded by the lively, loving embrace of a large Italian family. This foundation that shaped his values, his warmth, and his lifelong devotion to the people he loved.
In 1967, Gary met the love of his life, Patricia Rae Currier, and from that moment forward, the two built a partnership rooted in loyalty and unwavering commitment. They married on June 9, 1968, and shared 58 years together, a testament to their deep bond and the life they created. Their family grew with the arrival of their children, Corine and Christopher, and later their son in law, Michael Sean Stagner, granddaughter Sydney Reece Stagner Baranowski, and grandson Ethan Michael Stagner, each of whom Gary cherished with his whole heart.
Gary began his career as a draftsman at Grumman Aerospace in Brooklyn, where he worked on the Apollo 13 project. In 1971, Gary and Patricia moved their young family to Missouri, where Gary transitioned into the automotive industry. He spent decades in sales, building relationships that went far beyond business. Many of his customers became lifelong friends, drawn in by his sincerity, humor, and genuine interest in their lives.
Outside of work, Gary was a man of creativity and simple joys. He loved oil painting and drawing, finding quiet satisfaction in putting beauty onto canvas. He enjoyed fishing, the peaceful rhythm of being outdoors, and he took great pride in his home and yard, gardening, tending, and caring for the space he and Patricia built together. These hobbies weren’t just pastimes; they were expressions of his patience, his eye for detail, and his appreciation for the world around him.
Gary was a gregarious and kind soul, the sort of person who remembered your story, asked about your family, and meant it. Staying connected wasn’t an obligation for him; it was a joy. He nurtured friendships across years and miles, always making time for the people who mattered to him.
Above all, Gary was a man who put family first. He carried the traditions of his Italian upbringing into every stage of his life, the closeness, the loyalty, the belief that family is the heart of everything. He was admired for his thoughtfulness, warmth, and the quiet strength with which he supported those he loved.
Today, we remember Gary not only for the life he lived, but for the love he gave, steady, joyful, and wholehearted. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the friendships he cultivated, and the countless lives he touched simply by being himself.