Mary Nick Manitzas

Born on November 21, 1935, in San Angelo, Texas, Mary was the child of Nick Manitzas and Sofia V. Manitzas, who had migrated from Asia Minor and Greece to Texas.

Mary – affectionately called Aunt Mary, Thea Maria or Tia Maria by her nieces and nephews – at-tended public schools in San Angelo before attending San Angelo College on a scholarship and later attended the University of Texas at Austin. After graduating from UT with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1958, she taught at Odessa College and Odessa High School.

Mary tirelessly taught students how to write impeccable English and encouraged them to learn new ways to express themselves in writing and thinking. She loved words and could be considered a task-master with her students, encouraging them to strive to reach their full potential.

After she retired from Ector County public schools, Mary returned home to San Angelo where she was active in the community, including the garden club and church groups. She was a member of the San Angelo Retired Teachers and Associates and the Texas State Teachers Association. Mary was a proud Texas Longhorn and was a life member of Texas Exes, the ex-students association of UT Austin.

In late 2009, Mary suffered a stroke which left her partially paralyzed. Over the next several years, her home became a gathering point for family reunions until 2014, when her older siblings could no longer travel. Those family gatherings enabled Aunt Mary – the family historian – to share tales, legends and myths from the past.

She always had a tip on a recipe or the art of baking Greek pastries, coupled with a scold for a niece or nephew in Greek, just as their grandmother had once done.

Mary was an avid consumer of news and current events. She was fiercely independent with a keen mind and could be counted on for a rapier retort in any debate. She strongly believed in fair play and women’s rights and in proudly exercising her right to vote.

She was preceded in death by her brother Frank Nick Manitzas in 2017 and sister Marie Nick Crumly in 2019.

She is survived by brothers George Nick Manitzas and spouse Meredith Manitzas; and Demetrius Nick Manitzas and spouse Jonnie Manitzas; along with more than a dozen nieces and nephews and their spouses and great-nieces and great-nephews.

The family expresses special gratitude to the caregivers, doctors, hospitals, hospice nurses and the support of friends over the years.

Mary was laid to rest in a private ceremony.

Mary, on the anniversary of your passing, we miss you immensely.