Tribute to Michael J. Manafo

Michael J. Manafo - K3UOC
1948 - 2020

K3USC, K3UOC Dayton 2006

Dr. Michael J. "Mick" Manafo, age 72, of Wesleyville, passed away suddenly on Monday, December 21, 2020. He was born in Erie on September 21, 1948, son of the late James and Bobbie Manafo.

Mike was a 1966 graduate of Wesleyville High School where he played the quarterback position on the football team. He also played baseball and basketball in addition to being a bugle and trumpet player. In 1970, he graduated from Edinboro University and in 1971 received his Masters degree in Social Studies. At Harvard University, Mike received his second Masters degree in International Education in 1988, his third Masters in Administration in 1989, and his Doctorate in Administration, Planning, and Social Policy in 1998.

Mike taught at St. Benedict Academy in Erie from 1975-1979 and at CIC Valencia in Venezuela from 1979-1987, where he met his wife, Lee. From 1987-1991, as he was earning his education degrees, Mike worked at Harvard. He then went to ECA in Caracas, Venezuela from 1991-1993 as Assistant Principal. From 1994-1998, he was Director of Al Khalidiah Academy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mike had a strong interest in amateur radio and from 1998-1999 was Executive Director of the Harvard Wireless Club. From 1999-2000, he was a grant writer and adjunct faculty member for Gannon University. From 2000-2001, he was Director of Schloss International School in Wedendorf, Germany and from 2001-2003 Mike was Assistant Headmaster of Lee Academy in Lee, Maine.

Mike served as Director of ELM in Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela from 2003-2004 and as Project Developer for the Ivy Collegiate Academy in Taiwan, 2004- 2005. From 2006-2010, he was Upper School and IB Coordinator at St. John's School in Guam; 2010-2012, Principal at Maui Prep in Maui, Hawaii; 2012-2013, Director of International Students for Pennsylvania International Academy in Erie; and from 2014-2018, an edTPA Scorer for Pearson Educational. Following his stellar career in education, Mike took care of his family home and found time to enjoy many of his hobbies.

Mike was an amateur radio operator since 1962. He was licensed in eight countries, carried out 43 radio expeditions abroad since 1979, and instructed amateur radio at seven schools. He had many call letters, his most prominent being K3UOC. Mike enjoyed traveling- five continents, over 50 countries, and most states including Alaska and Hawaii. Also a history buff, he was a voracious reader of biographies, memoirs and travel nonfiction. He loved listening to music and was an avid sports fan. At many schools, he coached sports and directed Model UN. He had a witty sense of humor and was quite a storyteller.

Mike is survived by his wife, Lee Manafo; two children, Molly Manafo and Toby Manafo; his uncle, Jack Hill of Colorado; and several cousins.

Hello DXers and Contesters:
I've been around Dxing and contesting for 40-some years. Most recently, I operated as YV1/K3UOC from Ciudad Ojeda, Venezuela. Prior to the YV1 operation in 2003-2004, I operated from 7Z5OO and PJ5AA. Between 1994-1998 I spent four years in Saudi Arabia and worked a total of 114,129 contacts. I used to get down to PJ5AA at least once a year for contests, pileups, and to upgrade the station. I am in the education business and hold several Master's degrees and a Doctorate from Harvard University. My field is international education but I have done quite a bit of educational research and non-schooling administrative work. I spent 10 years living and working in Venezuela between 1979 and 1993. I was 4M4A and 4M5V in contests in those days and was also a member of the YX0AI DXpedition to Aves Island in 1992. In addition, I headed up a group that carried out the first joint special event operation with Russian hams (1990) operating as US1A. I am the trustee of the Harvard Wireless Club (W1AF) and wrote the October 1999 CQ cover article about America's Oldest Amateur Radio Club. Last year I built a new American-style boarding school in Taichung, Taiwan. Unfortunately, radio took a back seat due to the workload of that project. This year (2006) my family and I are in Guam, USA, where I am the head of the Upper School division at St. John's School. I am on the air now from the St John's School Amateur Radio Club station, operating as WH2D. If you need a QSL for 7Z5OO, PJ5AA, WH2D or any of my past operations, please QSL via K3UOC. All logs are still open.
73, Mike, K3UOC

Mike was a good friend. I talked to him from several of his DXpedition locations and at Dayton. I also worked Mike when I was operating from Aruba and he was at PJ5AA. Mike was a very smart and friendly person. He will be missed. K8CX

Mike on top of the Palace in Saudi Arabia at 7Z5OO in 1998

Listen to a 17 Meter CW Sound Clip of Mike operation 7Z5OO on April 4, 1998

K3UOC/YV4 1983 Valencia, Venezuela

P46S 1984 Saba Island

PJ8H, PJ5/K3UOC 1994 St. Eustatius Island

Info & Tent photo taken from the K3UOC QRZ.com page!
Dayton Photo by K8CX
Saudi Arabia Photo by K3UOC
Sound Clip from Hamgallery.com
K3UOC/YV4 QSL from the estate of W2TKG
P36S QSL from the estate of W8VSK
PJ8H QSL from the estate of W9FST