Jennifer Manning

Jennifer Manning

June 12, 1956-June 12, 2013
Jennifer “Jennie” Manning was born at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach on June 12, 1956, to William and Kay Manning of Costa Mesa. She attended Estancia High School, where she contributed to an historic campaign to preserve the riparian wetlands near the school, now known as Fairview Park. In 1971, she delivered the keynote speech to the State Assembly Subcommittee when her high school Ecology Committee traveled to Sacramento and petitioned the State Legislature with their cause. After graduation in 1974, Jennifer attended UCI for one year, then transferred to Cal State Fullerton and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Media Communications.
Among many of Jennifer’s talents was photography. In the early 1980’s, she had a darkroom built in her home and exhibited some of her work at the Art-A-Fair in Laguna Beach. More recently she was employed by Gravis and Associates graphics design firm and Coastline Community College.
Jennifer lived in Costa Mesa all her life, but she also loved to travel. Favorite places included Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and Hawaii. She had a special gift for quickly connecting and bonding with people, and left a lasting, positive impact on everyone she knew, including dear pets that her family adopted over the years from local shelters. She had a love of creativity, true beauty and compassion, and was generous with these gifts to all who found them in her.
In October, 2009, Jennifer was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She lived with this disease bravely and optimistically for almost four years. Jennie passed away at her home last week on her birthday, June 12, 2013. She leaves behind her partner-in-life of 30 years Suzanne Bradley and their daughter Evelyn Manning of Costa Mesa; her father William E. Manning of Costa Mesa; her sister Laura and brother-in-law Mike Hayes of Irvine; her sister Deborah and brother-in-law Jeff Cohen of Laguna Beach; and her brother John and sister-in-law Kelly Manning of Costa Mesa. She is also survived and loved by sixteen nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Jennifer will be held at the Mesa Verde Country Club at 4pm on June 21, 2013, the Summer Solstice, a day she always celebrated as an exquisite gift from the natural world she loved. Aloha attire, for info email: [email protected]. We will never forget you, Jennie. Our lives will never be the same without you.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift to a favorite charity. Among Jennie’s favorites were: the Pacific Marine Mammal Center; The Clearity Foundation (treatment options for ovarian cancer); Heifer International; and Yosemite Conservancy.