Edward Joseph McManimon III
By Joshua Burd
McManimon, Scotland & Baumann LLC is mourning the loss of Ed McManimon, a founder of the Roseland-based law firm and an influential figure in redevelopment and public finance.
McManimon, who was 77, died peacefully at his home late last week after a long illness, according to an obituary. His passing comes after a career that spanned more than 50 years and one that impacted key facets of New Jersey government and public life — from new schools and infrastructure projects to revitalization of its towns — thanks in large part to the practice he guided and grew over several decades.
Equally notable, the law firm said, was McManimon’s penchant for mentorship and a “commitment to humility in service to others.”
“Service for Ed began with humility,” MSB wrote in an announcement this week. “Despite his obvious talents and achievements, and the acknowledgments that followed, Ed remained ready to assist and serve all of us. No ask too small. No task below his stature. He met us where we were — not the other way around.
“The source of Ed’s desire to help was pure and simple. He cared. He saw potential. Potential we often did not see in ourselves. He refused to allow that potential to go unrealized. Ed encouraged, pushed and prodded us forward.”
The second of nine children, Edward Joseph McManimon III was born and raised in Ewing, according to the obituary. He attended Notre Dame High School and Georgetown University, where he earned his bachelor’s and law degrees and remained influential and dedicated to service long after finishing his studies.
His legal career began in 1971 with a clerkship under U.S. District Court Judge George H. Barlow, the firm said. He then became associated with the firm that now bears his name, beginning a long, distinguished tenure that drew acclaim in industry circles and in the public sector.
“Over the course of his career, Ed was rightly honored by his university, his colleagues and numerous professional organizations for his commitment to, and impact on, those institutions and the people they represent,” MSB wrote. “He left an indelible mark on Georgetown, his firm and the legal community. He had a distinguished career.”
The firm also noted that he married his first love, Christina, and became a devoted father to Maura and Christopher, and grandfather to Liam, Seamus and Killeen, as well as an avid supporter of The Pennington School girls’ soccer team. Throughout his life and career, he was humble and accessible even while building one of the state’s most impactful practices focused on redevelopment, privatization and other complex structured public and private finance issues.
“Always he remained only a call, email, text or conversation away if we needed reassurance, advice or more prodding,” the firm wrote. “Ed remained at his core an advisor, coach and mentor. A servant to others. Through that service, he celebrated our success and helped us through our failures.”
Visitation will be held Thursday, Feb. 8, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and on Friday, Feb. 9, from 9:45 a.m. to 10.45 a.m. at St. James Roman Catholic Church at 115 East Delaware Ave. in Pennington. A service will also take place Feb. 9 at 11 a.m., also at St. James Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trenton Area Soup Kitchen at 72 Escher St. in Trenton.
