DL F/A Diane D. Manget

~ IN MEMORY ~

MSY DL  F/A Diane DePass Manget

October 2, 1943 ~ January 11, 2015

--- Diane D. Manget, a pioneering preservationist

 

 

 

Diane (Dee-YON) was one of four children born to parents Daniel and Marjory Manget.  Born/raised in New Orleans, Diane remained very active in her hometown community throughout her life.  Diane joined Delta Air Lines in March 1971 and retired with Delta 12-01-2001 with 30+ years of service.  She had resided at 

1222 Philip Street , New Orleans, Louisiana 70130-5717.  Perhaps a good alternate contact would be c/o her siblings Marjory and Dan at  

 1916 Jefferson Ave.,  New Orleans, LA 70115-5617  ...  (504) 891-4753 

Diane’s obituary notes that a memorial service will be held Monday (Jan. 19) at 3 p.m. at 1228 Philip St., New Orleans LA.

 

Thank you,

    ~ Carol for the PCN

 

 

   http://blog.nola.com/new_orleans_art/2015/01/diane_manget_a_pioneering_pres.html

 

 Diane Manget, a pioneering preservationist, dies at 71: Newspaper Obituary 

Times-Picayune, The: Web Edition Articles (New Orleans, LA) - Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Diane Manget, an early force for historic preservation in New Orleans' Central Business District whose accomplishments included the renovation of 13 19th-century townhouses known collectively as Julia Row, died Sunday (Jan. 11) of sepsis at Ochsner Baptist Medical Center. She was 71.

'Thank goodness for Diane,' said Patty Gay, the Preservation Resource Center's executive director.  'She just was the most knowledgeable person that I knew about the importance of city planning and zoning and preservation. There are a lot of people who got one part of it or another, but she got the whole picture.'

Ms. Manget, whose first name was pronounced 'Dee-YON,' was executive director of Historic Faubourg St. Mary Corp., which encompassed the CBD. Using money from private foundations and the Downtown Development District, Ms. Manget persuaded people and businesses to buy derelict buildings in that part of the city and promise to renovate them. That money was then put into what was called a revolving fund to buy more down-at-the-heels buildings.

'She put her whole heart and soul into that,' said Ann Masson, who was the corporation's assistant director. 'She really believed that preservation, particularly in the downtown community, was the way to give the city a future. . . . I think she was best able to convince a lot of the downtown business owners that this was really good for the city.'

Her first major accomplishment was the start of the process that eventually resulted in the preservation of the townhouses of Julia Row, occupying the even-numbered side of the 600 block of Julia Street.

Ms. Manget, who started her work before historic preservation had become widely accepted, 'felt the future of the city was imperiled,' said Masson, an architectural historian. 'She believed . . . that the soul of New Orleans was imperiled by demolition, the parking lots and businesses going out.'

Ms. Manget, a lifelong New Orleanian who graduated from the Louise S. McGehee School and Newcomb College, was stressing the importance of preserving and reusing historic buildings early in the 1970s to her fellow Junior League members, including Jackie Derks.

As a result of Ms. Manget's advocacy, the Junior League founded and funded the Preservation Resource Center, Derks said. 'She had a passion for things she cared about.'

Ms. Manget 'would go and talk to anybody about saving a building to convince them that it would be more  valuable to put their money into it,' Masson said. 'She always was involved with historic preservation rather than investment in new structures. She was trying to make them marketable and useful.'

As this initiative progressed, the Historic Faubourg St. Mary Corp. had done its job successfully - so successfully, Masson said, that property values in the CBD soared. The corporation, its job done, went out of business, and its assets were turned over to the Preservation Resource Center.

In addition to her preservation work, Ms. Manget was a flight attendant for Delta Air Lines for more than 20 years. She retired shortly after the 9/11 attacks.

Survivors include a brother, Daniel Manget Jr., and a sister, Marjory Manget Lyman, both of New Orleans.

A memorial service will be held Monday (Jan. 19) at 3 p.m. at 1228 Philip St.

More articles and pictures (2011) available at  http://www.nola.com/society/index.ssf/2011/03/nell_nolan_social_scene_gaiety.html

 
-------------------------
Mother’s obituary offers more family information......
Mrs. Daniel T. Manget, Jr. Marjory Rees Manget, age 97, died March 14, 2009, at her New Orleans home, as she lived: with gratitude for her blessings; a sense of wonder, curiosity, and adventure; equanimity and gallantry. She was known for her many friends, her optimism, beauty, generosity, enthusiasm, leadership, and patriotism. She was born December 31, 1911, in Philadelphia, PA. She was the devoted wife of Daniel T. Manget Jr., a native of Newnan, GA, who died in 1971. They moved to New  Orleans, LA, in 1932 so Mr. Manget could open a branch there of the Newnan-based Manget Brothers Cotton Co. He later became the only President of the New Orleans Cotton Exchange to serve four consecutive years. They had four children: Mrs. Guy Lyman Jr. (nee Marjory Manget) of New Orleans, LA and Monteagle, TN; Daniel T. Manget III of Metairie, LA; the late Stephanie Dent Manget of El Salvador; and Diane DePass Manget of New Orleans, LA. Mr. and Mrs. Manget are survived by seven grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren. Mrs. Manget was a devoted wife and parent as well as a community activist and businesswoman. In 1949, she helped Mr. Manget organize the non-profit Valencia Club to provide wholesome recreation for teenagers, and in 1951 they also worked together to establish St. Martin's Protestant Episcopal School. People of all ages and worthy charities were always welcomed at her home. She often chaperoned teenage activities and mentored many, including at least three young people who lived with her and ended up getting college degrees and an M.D. As a businesswoman, Mrs. Manget was  a partner in Icebreakers, Inc., founded in the early 1950s, owned and operated Ramblers, Inc. and for 18 years, the Georgian Shop which sold antiques, fine linens monogramming, children's clothing, and engraved stationary. As a patriot, Mrs. Manget was a founder of the New Orleans Chapter of Freedoms Foundation and was on the Board of the Bureau of Governmental Research. She retired from active involvement in her businesses in 1976 and pursued her many interests, including the visual and performing arts, entertaining at home and socializing with friends. Mrs. Manget was a shining example of one who lived each stage of her life to its fullest and aged gracefully. A memorial worship service was held at Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church of New Orleans, LA.;