Thomas Oscar Mann ’57

Thomas Oscar Mann ’57, of Charlotte, N.C., died peacefully at home Feb. 28 surrounded by loved ones. He was born Nov. 29, 1934, in Neptune Beach, Fla., to the late Charles and Martha Mann. Tom grew up in Jacksonville, Fla., where he attended and graduated from The Bolles School. He then spent two years at Davidson College where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He graduated from Florida State University with a degree in business administration. During his time at FSU he served two years in the U.S. Army in Okinawa, Japan, teaching scuba, swimming, and first aid and fostering a love of the ocean that continued throughout his life. He received his captain’s license and spent several seasons bare-boating throughout the Caribbean and racing sailboats on Lake Norman. After college, Tom began his 26-year career with Aetna in Jacksonville, Fla., where he married Ruth Dale Reynolds in 1961. They moved to Hartford, Conn., where his two daughters were born. The family then moved to Charlotte, N.C. After retiring from Aetna, he joined Cameron Harris Company managing the group benefits department. He was a member of Ducks Unlimited and enjoyed many years of hunting and fishing with friends at Camp Bryan, N.C. Tom was a member of Myers Park Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, was on the Council of Community Ministries, chaired the Community Ministries Committee, and travelled on a mission trip to Brazil. He was an active member on the board of the Emergency Winter Shelter and the board of Crisis Assistance Ministries where he received the Shirley Henry Award for outstanding volunteer service. Tom also chaired the building of a house for Habitat for Humanity, and worked with Loaves and Fishes food pantry. Tom is survived by his two daughters, Tracy Larson (Brad) and Ashley Martin (Michael); stepsons, Dawson Rhoad (Jill) and Matt Rhoad (Christie); grandchildren, Kevin Martin, Davis Martin, Grant Larson, and Gray Larson; four step grandchildren; and a brother, Reverend Charles Mann ’53 (Eleanor). He was preceded in death by his second wife, Virginia Duvall Mann, and infant son, Kirby Russell Mann.