MANZER, MURRAY HARMON (1915-2008) - Murray Manzer passed away April 20 at home in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia at the age of 92. He was the son of Charles Manzer and Flora Rideout and was born and raised in Woodstock, New Brunswick. Murray is survived by his wife of 37 years, Mary-Isabel Terry; his children, Marilyn Manzer of Wolfville, NS, Gary Manzer (Linda) of Vancouver, BC, and Natalie Manzer (Steven Méthot) of Calgary, AB; his grandchildren, Lorrie Roberts (Kevin Rudderham) of Mahone Bay, NS, Ariana Nasr (Andy Flinn) of Wolfville, NS, Karl Manzer (Aliki Constantis) of Vancouver, BC, Sara Nasr of Toronto, ON, Kamila Nasr of Beijing, China, Josef and Nicolas Méthot of Calgary; his great-grandchildren, Leah and Meghan Rudderham of Mahone Bay, NS; brother-in-law, Bill Terry and sister-in-law, Margaret Warwick of Oakville, ON, and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his first wife, Phyllis Menzies and his son David Manzer. He attended Normal School in Fredericton, NB and taught school in one-room schools in rural areas in the Saint John River Valley for a few years before attending Acadia University. After graduation in 1943 he returned to teaching in New Brunswick where he was principal of Hartland High School and teacher at Mount Allison Academy and Fredericton High School. For a time he sold life insurance in Fredericton, and then attended the Maritime School of Social Work (M.S.W. 1958) where he embarked on the career that he truly loved. He worked as a psychiatric social worker in the Provincial Hospital in Saint John, NB and the Mental Health Clinic in Fredericton, NB. He was Director of Welfare for the City of Fredericton for several years. He worked for the Federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (DINA) from the late 1960's until he retired in 1980. With DINA he did community development work in the Saint John River Valley, and then came to Halifax in 1970 where he was Director of Social Services and Child Welfare for Nova Scotia and PEI. He traveled a great deal visiting First Nations communities all around the Maritimes. He felt greatly honored that the Mi'kmaq people sometimes referred to him as "one of us." When he retired from DINA at the age of 65, he was hired by the Union of Nova Scotia Indians to help them develop services and programs and establish the Mi'kmaq Family and Children's Services of Nova Scotia. For many years afterward he enjoyed attending many First Nations celebrations in Nova Scotia. Murray was passionate about the outdoors, paddling and skating on hundreds of Maritime lakes. In the mid-1980's he and Mary-Isabel acquired land for camping at Ponhook Lake, Queens County where they have spent their recreational time with many visits from extended family for over 20 years. Murray was always a singer, both solo and choral, singing in many church and community choirs. He thoroughly loved music and sang his way through all his life's activities, adding the harmonies whenever anyone else joined in. He was delighted to follow the musical careers of all his descendants and has been a major patron of the arts in his own family. The family wishes to thank; for their support and kindness, the many medical professionals, care givers, volunteers, friends, clergy, and members of the Bridgewater United Baptist Church congregation who helped make Murray/Dad/Grampy's last months comfortable. There will be a memorial service at the Bridgewater United Baptist Church, 325 King Street, Bridgewater, NS on Thursday, April 24 at 3 pm. Donations in memory of Murray may be made to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - (www.policyalternatives.ca), which reflects his concern for social justice, or a charity of choice.