Akron, Ohio - Age 84, born Sep. 20, 1938, passed away Jan. 6, 2023. Beloved mom, grandma, and great grandma Mary Ellen "Susie" Leslie died peacefully in her home in the early hours of Jan. 6, 2023, with a book in her hand and a dog at her feet. She is survived by her five children, John Manos (Rose), Karen Manos (Franklin Luna), Steven Manos (Jolinda Porfidio), Debbie Manos McHenry (Michael McHenry) and Connie Sue Manos Martin (Danny Martin); her eight grandchildren, Mary Ellen Bowman (Drew Bowman), Shaun Manos (Michelle), Michelle Manos Pellegrini (Danny Pellegrini), Steve Manos (Amanda), Amanda Godzinski (Ray Godzinski), Chris Manos, Meghan Cordell (Cameron Cordell), and Wyatt Martin; and her thirteen great-grandchildren, Sophia, Joe, Jaqueline, and William Bowman, Blake and Collin Manos, Jackson and Colton Manos, Brayden, Madden and Camryn Pellegrini, and Sam and Emmy Godzinski. She was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Nelle Morehouse Leslie, her brothers Bruce Allen Leslie and Robert Leslie, Captain US Navy (Ret), her first husband John Manos, and her second husband, Dr. Gary Gappert. Mary Ellen was born on September 20, 1938 in Evanston, Illinois. The youngest of three children, she was raised in Norfolk, Virginia and graduated from Granby High School in 1956. She was an accomplished bassoonist, playing with the Norfolk Symphony Orchestra at the age of 14 and earning a music scholarship to the University of Michigan. She also had dreams of becoming a doctor, but gave up her scholarship to elope with John "Jack" Manos, a Navy fighter pilot stationed at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach, Virginia. After a few years and the birth of their first child, the couple moved to Northern Virginia for Jack to become a commercial airline pilot. Shortly after the birth of their second child, Jack was recalled to active duty and assigned to Naval Air Station Barbers Point on O'ahu, Hawaii. While living at Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and between Jack's tours as a fighter pilot on board an aircraft carrier, the family had two more children. After the Navy came Jack's career with United Airlines, a return to Virginia and the arrival of their fifth and final child. As a stay-at-home mom, Mary Ellen was a Brownie Troop and 4H Club leader and never missed a sporting event, musical performance, or horse show. She was also an accomplished equestrienne, fox-hunting with the Pohick Valley Hunt in Virginia and the Bath Hunt in Ohio; a nationally ranked tennis player; a cautious but always willing skier; and a world traveler. She was always game for any athletic challenge her children offered, including riding in Pelotonia 16, competing in a triathlon, and running races - and winning her age group. The successful launching of her last child from the nest marked the start of the second chapter of Mary Ellen's life. She started her law career working as a litigation paralegal at Roetzel & Andress. While working full time, Mary Ellen earned her BA in Psychology, Sociology, Economics and Accounting from Capital University in 1994, her JD from the University of Akron School of Law in 2001, and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Akron in 2002. She is the embodiment of the life lesson that it's never too late and you're never too old: after passing the Ohio bar in 2001, she opened her own firm, the Law Offices of Mary Ellen Leslie, and practiced law in Akron and Columbus, Ohio for more than two decades, until the time of her death. She was a fearless advocate for children as a court-appointed Guardian ad Litem, a family and elder law attorney, and a trained mediator. She loved being a lawyer. Mary Ellen was the most inspiring mother any child could ever hope to have. She is dearly missed. Family and friends will have a private celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Franklin or Summit counties in Mary Ellen's name.
Published by The Plain Dealer from Jan. 18 to Jan. 22, 2023.
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