Robert Gerard Manning

“That’s nice rhythm hon”

And if anyone knew rhythm, it was him.

From his youth, singing in the clubs in Boston, to dancing at The Mud Puddle in Albuquerque, to drum circles at Big Mountain, to the tapping of his typewriter keys, all settled in the families’ Oasis, in Tijeras.

“Use your fingers. Put down that stick. That’s it, be gentle on that skin. Not so long ago it walk’d strong an proud over these mountains”.

He knew Tijeras Canyon- the people and history, as if it was his own. The Army brought him to the Southwest, but the people and culture is why he stayed. He met his beautiful wife, Gail Moore through her best friend, Joanie. And he quickly became a blessing to the growing community of friends and family in the homestead- adding to the harmony of the Moore family.

“Sure babe I’ll tell ya all about it. Lay down here and cuddle up. It’s a long an simple story”

He was a man of many talents: Always a story teller. Most consistently, a poet. A singer. A writer. A shoe shiner. A bugle boy. A sharp dresser. A fighter. A protector. A truth teller. Always with a deep love of God. A carpenter. An advocate. An activist. A listener to all that needed to be heard. But of all his talents- loving his family was his greatest gift. Gail and Bobby had three daughters- every 7 years like the piñon trees- Michelle Lynn, Alia Spring and Keren Gaia.

“In the days when so many had too much, your mama an I came to live on the mountain. Excess was spillin over the sides an we had only ta pick up what was needed to get by.”

Being one of 7 siblings, his humble Irish Catholic upbringing in the projects of Boston, built character, resilience and his ability to see people for who they were. His mom, “Eddy”, wrote and directed plays for kids in the neighborhood- with spectators lining the halls, leading to a wide open door and a living room stage. His dad, “Bill”, worked hard and long on the docks and for the postal service, to provide for his large family.

Bobby loved deeply and inherited his mom’s passion for community and her love of God- always welcoming family and friends who were down on their luck- never with judgment. He loved his siblings, cousins, nieces, nephews and chosen family dearly. Ree, his only surviving sibling, and his strong, beautiful and resilient sister, was separated by distance but he cherished her deeply.

“You were just a whisper on the wind an time was outside the lines. All of us mamas an papas were children changin.”

He eventually became a grandfather to 2 beautiful pieces of his heart- Olive Kai and Evie Mae. Despite much heartache over the losses of loved ones, struggles and pain- he was a fulfilled man and left his legacy- LOVE. If he knew you, he loved you.

“As it is, this is how we live and know that Love Endures”

Robert “Bobby” “Bo” “Boston” Gerard Anthony Dwyer Steen Manning