Manus Spanier

Longtime Prescott resident and physician, Dr. Manus R. Spanier, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 10th, in the presence of family. He was 94.

Dr. Spanier was born on June 6, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York to Dr. Harold B. and Grace (Rapier) Spanier. As a youth, he attended Massanutten Military Academy in Woodstock, Virginia and 50 years later was appointed to that school's Board of Trustees. He received his bachelor's degree from Albion College in Michigan and medical degree from Wake Forest University in North Carolina. He received his specialty training in Internal Medicine at New York Methodist and Bellevue Hospitals and Columbia University in New York City.

He then served in the U.S. Army medical corps, stationed in Munich, Germany. Following military service, he moved to Tucson, Arizona and served on the staff of the Tucson V.A. Hospital. He moved with his family to Prescott in 1965. He was the first internist to settle in Prescott and practiced Internal Medicine and Cardiology here for the next 30 years. On the staff of Yavapai Regional Medical Center, he served as Chief of the Medical Department and as Chief of the Medical Staff. He was a developer of the hospital's CardioPulmonary laboratory, its Cardiac and Pulmonary rehab programs, and Preventive Medicine programs. He also served as Chairman of the Arizona State Board of Medical Examiners.

Dr. Spanier, in later years, became an avid runner. He completed over 15,000 miles (enough to cross the United States five times) before finally quitting for health reasons at age 73.

Following retirement, he continued to lead an active life. He ran marathons in both the Arctic and Antarctic, pursued post-graduate studies at Arizona State University and Dartmouth College, and played French horn in the Yavapai College Orchestra. He traveled to Greece each summer with study groups from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He wrote numerous essays on ancient Greek and Biblical history, including a definitive "History of Ancient Greek Vases".

Dr. Spanier organized several charitable foundations, supporting numerous Arizona charities. He was especially gratified to be able to underwrite the new Spanier Family Library at Massanutten Military Academy, which had educated him so many years before.

Dr. Spanier is preceded in death by his wife, Ann P. (Holmes) Spanier; and is survived by his sons, Jim Spanier and wife Doris of Castle Rock, Colorado and Mark Spanier and wife Mary of Lexington, Kentucky and his grandchildren, Ryan, Kevin, Adam, Amelia and Elli Spanier.

The Spanier family is grateful for the love and companionship of his great friends, Bob and Kathy Kozak, Mary Manzer, Andy and Candace Tomlinson, Mark and Pam Womack, and many others.