John C. McManama 鈥�37, MD, who treated generations of Boston College students and student-athletes with skill, care, and compassion during a nearly 40-year career at the University, died on Feb. 10. He was 100 years old.
Visiting hours will be held on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Joyce Funeral Home in Waltham. A funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at St. Mary鈥檚 Church, 133 School St., Waltham. Burial will be in Cavalry Cemetery.
聽鈥淒r. John was a great doctor,鈥� said University Health Services Director Thomas Nary, MD. 鈥淕reat physicians have a 鈥榢nack鈥� 鈥� not unlike a great football player 鈥� in the ability to stay cool, not get rattled, and to play best when the big game is on the line. He had that ability.
鈥淣o matter how old he was, I don鈥檛 think he ever missed a day,鈥� Dr. Nary added. 鈥淓ven in the worst weather, he would clear his own driveway 鈥� and usually those of a couple of his neighbors 鈥� and show up right on time. You could always count on Dr. John.鈥�
A Waltham native and graduate of Tufts Medical School, Dr. McManama served in the U.S. Army during World War II, earning a Bronze Star award for his work as a battlefield surgeon in the Philippines and Okinawa. When he returned home, he followed the career of his physician father in establishing a private practice Waltham. From there, he served residents for decades 鈥� making house calls, delivering about 3,000 babies, and performing the wide-ranging medical trade of a small-city general practitioner.
鈥淒r. John would sometimes see a student in Health Services and tell them that he had delivered both their mother and father,鈥� said Dr. Nary. 鈥淚n this age of specialization, that type of thing just does not happen any more 鈥� and never will. He was just wonderful.鈥�
Joining the University Health Services unit in 1972, he teamed up with athletics physician Dr. J. Joseph Burns to help provide medical services for 蝌蚪直播鈥檚 growing population of student-athletes.
鈥淗e and Dr. Burns were ahead of their time in insisting that all athletes get physical examinations and that we collect a medical history of athletic injuries and concussions so that we could better treat them,鈥� said Dr. Nary. 鈥淢ost colleges at that time did not do that.鈥�
鈥淒r. Mac loved 蝌蚪直播,鈥� said Assistant Athletics Director for Sports Medicine Steve Bushee. 鈥淗e would be at practices even when he wasn鈥檛 鈥榦n duty.鈥� You could always find him walking the halls of the old Roberts Center and McHugh Forum, and later Conte Forum and Yawkey Center, and of course, Alumni Stadium. He was omnipresent.鈥�
Dr. McManama, said Bushee, was an 鈥渙ld-time, old-school physician who had the ability to respond to the patient and provide what the patient needed to hear. He knew when to be compassionate and gentle and he knew when a kid might need a little kick in the butt. His practice, his wisdom and his knowledge of medicine were superb. He was always a great mentor to me.鈥�
Dr. McManama鈥檚 brother George 鈥� also a doctor 鈥� served on the University Health Services medical staff.
A rabid Eagles鈥� sports fan, Dr. McManama was frequently called 鈥淐oach鈥� by other athletics staff members. 鈥淗e knew all of the players and was very involved with all of the teams,鈥� said Bushee. 鈥淗e certainly had a thought or two about who should be getting more playing time, and was not shy about sharing those insights 鈥� whether the head coaches agreed or not.鈥�
Dr. McManama retired from 蝌蚪直播 in 2009 at age 93.
In addition to his decades of work at Boston College, Dr. McManama was the patriarch of a large and supportive family. He and his wife of 49 years, Barbara (known as 鈥淢aggie鈥�), were the parents of nine children 鈥� eight of whom graduated from Boston College. His daughter Susan McManama Gianinno 鈥�70 serves on the University鈥檚 Board of Trustees.
In later years, when Maggie suffered through a long, debilitating illness, Dr. McManama stayed by her side and took care of her. When she finally had to be moved to a nursing care facility, he was a daily visitor to her bedside.
Dr. McManama established a scholarship in women鈥檚 basketball in Maggie鈥檚 memory. 鈥淪he and the children were just about the only things that were more important to him than 蝌蚪直播,鈥� said Bushee.
Boston College bestowed two major honors on Dr. McManama in recognition of his many contributions. He was presented with the Alumni Association鈥檚 Medal of Excellence in Medicine in 1990, and, a year later, was inducted into the 蝌蚪直播 Varsity Club Athletics Hall of Fame.
聽鈥淒r. John McManama is a gentleman鈥檚 physician,鈥� said Dr. Nary in 2006 as University officials gathered to celebrate his 90th birthday, 鈥渁nd that is the highest compliment I can give.鈥�
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New England Home for Little Wanderers or the Disabled Veterans of America.
鈥�Reid Oslin, for University Communications