Longtime Pacific Palisades resident Donald E. Manser, Jr., died at Saint John’s Hospital on January 23. He was 80. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Don attended Catholic University and graduated with a degree in physics. From Washington, he moved to New Jersey, to Denver, and then to the Palisades. He worked in the aerospace industry, primarily with Hughes Aircraft. He was proud of his work on the radar system for the Surveyor spacecraft of the 1960s, which soft-landed on the moon as a lead-up to the manned Apollo moon landings. Don also worked on many other civilian and military radar systems. Don enjoyed deep-sea fishing and, after his retirement from Hughes Aircraft, was an avid volunteer with Meals on Wheels West. He was also active as a member of Corpus Christi Parish, where he spent many hours volunteering, and American Legion Post 283. One of Don’s favorite pastimes was a good round of golf, and (especially) a good lunch afterwards with his friends. Don will be remembered with much affection by all of his friends and especially his family, who include his wife Jean Renner-Manser; sister Marilyn Manser of Chevy Chase, Maryland; stepsons Steve Renner (wife Mimi) of Grand Junction, Colorado; Brian Renner (wife Karen) of Malibu; and Paul Renner of Torrance; and by his grandsons Dan, Hunter, Nolan and Cheyne Renner. A memorial mass celebrating Don’s life was held at Corpus Christi on January 30.
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