Renowned journalist Bob McManus, who lent his distinctive voice to the New York Post for over a decade, passed away in NYU Langone Hospital on Saturday. He lived his 81 years to the fullest, dedicated to journalism until his last breath. With a career that spanned nearly three decades at the Post, McManus played an integral role in the paper for the last 12 years, occupying the position of the influential editorial page editor. His journalistic focus was primarily on the state of government inefficiencies, corruption both in public and private avenues, and the rampant hypocrisy in society.
McManus’ life was cut short just three days before he would have turned 82. He succumbed to complications related to bile duct cancer, as confirmed by his family. His roots trace back to Buffalo, where he was the eldest of nine children. His first encounter with the world of news and journalism was through his father, an experienced reporter for the Binghamton and Albany newspapers.
McManus’ early life was predominantly spent in Binghamton, where he developed an understanding of life’s trials from a young age. After a struggle with polio at the age of 12, his family relocated to Albany. Even during his high school period, he demonstrated remarkable dedication by managing a department at W.T. Grants. Post-graduation, he decided to serve his country by enlisting in the US Navy.
During the course of his four-year service period in the Navy, McManus was stationed first on a destroyer named the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. and later transferred to a submarine, the USS Sablefish. As part of the exclusive ‘silent service’, McManus proudly represented the NYC Base of the United States Submarine Veterans.
Following his service in the Navy, McManus returned to Albany and began his career in journalism. Amid his initial days in the profession, he worked as a copy boy for the Times Union while also attending classes at Siena College. His hard work and dedication soon led him to rank up and become an investigative journalist, with his articles exposing corruption across a range of issues.
EJ McMahon, a close friend and fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, mentioned that McManus had a uniquely captivating writing style, which bore the influence of various prominent authors. McManus’ talents were in demand, and he was quickly promoted to the position of city editor and projects editor for the Albany paper during the 1970s.
In 1984, he began a new chapter of his journalistic journey by joining the editorial page of the New York Post. After 16 years of dedicated service there, he was promoted to be the editorial page editor in the year 2000.
According to Fred Dicker, a colleague of McManus, he was ‘a relentless seeker of the truth, ensuring that neither his personal viewpoints nor his inherent cynicism obstructed his pursuit of the truth.’
Throughout George Pataki’s 12-year governance as the governor, McManus shared his perspectives freely. His opinions often targeted the administration’s stands on state policy issues, and his playful rhetoric frequently contained friendly jabs aimed at Pataki’s rule.
Even after his official retirement, McManus never left his love for writing. He continued to craft influential columns for the paper. His last column, published in March 2024, was a critique of Gov. Hochul’s decision to station National Guard troops in the city’s subway system as a response to the escalating crime rates.
Bob McManus leaves behind a significant legacy, not only in journalism but also in his personal life. He is survived by his beloved wife, his cherished daughter, three sisters, and four brothers. The family is in the process of planning a memorial service next month to honor his storied life and career.
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