Dr. Ernest James Manuel

01/07/2003

Dr. Ernest James Manuel, 70, of 212-12 73rd Ave., Bayside, N.Y., died Tuesday at the Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Lakeville Road, New Hyde Park, N.Y., after being stricken earlier in the day. A former resident of North Adams and member of a family long associated with the Northern Berkshire business community, he was born in Bennington, Vt., on Dec. 30, 1932, a son of James Manuel and Freeda Johani Manuel. He moved to North Adams as a child with his family, who were proprietors of the former Candyland Confectionery Store at 41 Main St. Educated in North Adams schools, he graduated from Drury High School with the class of 1950 and attended the former North Adams State College (now Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts) for two years, then transferred to the Boston Conservatory of Music in Boston, earning his bachelor's degree in July 1955. For the next 10 years he performed professionally in all types of musical engagements, including chamber music, orchestra, dance band and recording sessions. He also taught privately in Boston area communities. Continuing with his studies in clarinet, music composition, arranging, flute, saxophone, bass clarinet and oboe, he completed his master's degree at the Boston Conservatory of Music in 1960. He also served as a specialist fourth class with the HQ Detachment and Band of the 26th Infantry Division of the Massachusetts National Guard and Army Reserve, completing his service in 1959. From 1963 to 1967, he gradually changed his concentration from music to psychiatry and completed his premedical studies at the Metropolitan College of Boston University. In 1969, while employed as band instructor for the Pittsfield school system, he was accepted by the University of Chieti in Chieti, Italy, for his medical training. He transferred to the University of Rome, where he completed his medical degree requirements in 1976. He completed his internship in 1978 at the Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y., and spent a year in psychiatry residency at the University of Massachusetts at Worcester. He completed his residency between 1979 and 1982 at the Wes-Ros-Park Mental Health Centre in Hyde Park and Boston State Hospital in Boston. Before his retirement in 1998, he was associated as a psychiatrist with the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in Queens Village, N.Y. He is survived by two brothers, Thomas Manuel of North Adams and James Manuel Jr. of Baytown, Texas, and five nephews and two nieces. A brother, Robert I. Manuel, is deceased. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Funeral services for Dr. Ernest James Manuel will take place Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003 at 2 at the FLYNN & DAGNOLI-MONTAGNA HOME FOR FUNERALS, West Chapels, 521 West Main St., North Adams, with the Rev. Bruce Duncan officiating. Burial will take place in the Manuel family plot at Southview Cemetery in the spring. Calling hours at the funeral home are Saturday, Jan. 11, 2003, from noon until the time of the funeral. In lieu of flowers, any donations in his memory are suggested for any charity of the donor's choice through the funeral home, which is in charge of arrangements. Survivors include two brothers, attorney Thomas Manuel of North Adams and James Manuel Jr. of Baytown, Texas, and five nephews and two nieces. He was predeceased by a brother, attorney Robert I. Manuel.

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