Attorney Richard P. ("Dick") McManus died in La Jolla, CA shortly before his 92nd birthday.

Attorney McManus was born on October 20, 1929 in Keokuk, Iowa, the youngest of Edward W. and Kathleen (O'Connor) McManus.  His primary and secondary education were in Keokuk, where he was Student Council President and earned straight A's.  He obtained his B.A. from St. Ambrose College, his J.D. from the University of Michigan, and his MBA, with honors, from Roosevelt University.  After a tour of service in the U.S. Air Force Judge Advocate General's Office, he joined his father and brothers in their home-town legal practice.  Following a decade of general practice in Iowa, he transitioned to Chicago and corporate law, where he rose to Vice-President and Chief Counsel at Household Finance Corporation (later HSBC bank).  Always envious of California living, he eventually moved to establish the law department at Security Pacific Bank in San Diego.  There, Mr. McManus led a series of mergers and acquisitions to create the fourth largest financial services company in America.  After earning the American Financial Services Association's Distinguished Service Award and serving as Executive Vice-President of BankAmerica, he retired from employment to pursue a pro bono career spanning another 25 years.  In that, he first worked with President Jimmy Carter in Habitat for Humanity and later in providing free legal aid around San Diego.  For the latter, he was named San Diego Pro Bono Attorney of the year in 2005 and was proud recipient of both the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Distinguished Service Award and the California Bar Pro Bono Services Award.

A true Renaissance Man, Richard's personal skills and interests were always remarkable in their breadth and depth.  As an amateur architect, he singlehandedly built his first family home (which still stands today) and , as a skilled carpenter, he filled it with unique furniture of his own design.  As an artist, his paintings won awards in Chicago and still adorn the homes of family and friends.  As an educator, he taught political science to generations of college students and, as a citizen, he served as city councilman in Lake Bluff, IL, was Chairman of the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee, and led political campaigns in Iowa, Illinois, and California.  Always the entrepreneur, he founded several companies along the way, including a Missouri agribusiness to which he piloted his own small plane in frequent farm visits.

Amidst a demanding practice ranging from rural courtrooms to corporate boardrooms, Mr. McManus contributed numerous academic and technical articles, including the first conception of variable-rate mortgages (American Bar Journal, June 1969).  A lifelong foe of unfair trade practices, he influenced portions of the Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act, strengthening its Unfair Credit Practice Rules and eliminating the Holder-in-Due-Course Doctrine.  Always a visionary, his interpretation of the Bank Holding Company Act led to creation of "non-bank" banks capable of providing a novel product: bank credit cards.

A man of deep Catholic faith, Mr. McManus, was always active in his Iowa, Illinois and San Diego parishes, chairing numerous committees and regularly attending Mass until his death.  He is survived by his wife of more than 65 years, Marjorie, who resides in Escondido; his son Michael (Maureen), a physician in Boston; his son Matthew (Elizabeth), an executive in San Diego; six grandchildren, Conor (Shelley), Alyson (Charles), Andrew, Dylan, Seamus and Rianne; two great-grandchildren, Logan and Henry, and many nieces and nephews whom he always held dear.  He was preceded in death by his middle son Mark (Katie), an architect, and his siblings Neil, Jean and Edward (Nick).  By all measures, Mr. McManus led a full, influential, generous and exemplary life, managing his own affairs and caring for others until the very end.  Those who knew him knew a singularly great man who will be remembered and missed.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Mr. McManus can be made to the following organizations, all of which he passionately supported.