Community Honorees - Tom & Nancy McManus

Tom and Nancy McManus have worked in acute care hospitals as Respiratory Therapists since the mid 1970’s. They had a son Scott in 1981 and a daughter Kathleen (Kat) in 1984. In 1992 when Scott was diagnosed with type one diabetes (T1D), they began to navigate a whole different field in medicine in order to learn the challenges of managing the disease.

In July of 2000, Scott passed away from complications of getting ill, being dehydrated, and having T1D. Two months later, they found a brochure for the local “JDF Walk to Cure Diabetes”. This was their initial contact with JDRF and it was at this point that they decided to become active in the JDRF Hudson Valley Branch. Tom and Nancy participated in their first Walk that fall, attended their first Hope Gala in 2001 alongside family, and participated in their first “Ride to Cure Diabetes” in Death Valley, CA in 2003.

Nancy and Tom became perpetual members of the Walk and Gala committees. Nancy became a member of the Hudson Valley Board Directors for six years and served as Board President for the last two years of her term. Tom followed in his wife’s footsteps by serving as a Board member for six years, the last two of which he held the title of President. Both very active volunteers, Nancy served as Gala Chair and Co-chairperson for eleven years, while Tom served as Walk Chairperson for one year. They also volunteered for the Glens Falls Gala for many years and have recently assisted in the Albany chapter’s Ride Program. They are best known for their continued involvement in JDRF’s national Ride program, riding every year since 2003 and for the past five years, participating in two rides each year. Through the Ride Program, JDRF awarded them with the very first Promise Jerseys in 2011 (awarded to riders without T1D, deemed to have done the most to further the cause). In 2015, they became certified USA Cycling Coaches /JDRF Coaches in the Hudson Valley to help support and expand the chapter’s Ride Program.

Tom and Nancy are active members of their community and have been involved in the Boy Scouts of America where Scott achieved Eagle Scout, and in the Girl Scouts of America where Kat achieved Gold Scout. They dedicate their time to other organizations such as the local chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, Inc., Civil Air Patrol, Masons, and Order of the Easter Star. Above all, their commitment is to the mission of JDRF and funding research so that other families will not have to suffer the loss of a family member to this disease.


REMEMBER – “What you do tonight helps determine what our children and loved ones can do tomorrow.” – Nancy McManus