Ernest Manheim, 102, Was Professor, Composer

Ernest Manheim, professor emeritus at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, died at home on July 28 at age 102. Ernest was born in Budapest, Hungary, served in the Hungarian army in World War I, obtained doctoral degrees in Leipzig and London, and immigrated to the United States in 1937. He was founder and first chairman of the department of sociology at KCU, later UMKC, in 1938.

A renaissance man, Mr. Manheim composed a symphony that was performed by the Kansas City Philharmonic in the early 1950s and received the University of Missouri's Thomas Jefferson Award in 1978. Among recent honors was Austria's highest distinction in the arts and sciences. Manheim Hall (Social Sciences) at UMKC was named in his honor in 1999. The University of Kansas held an international symposium on the occasion of his 100th birthday in 2000. A forthcoming book containing articles by and about Mr. Manheim is in press (Frank Baron, David Smith, and Charles Reitz, editors).

Mr. Manheim was a summer resident of West Tisbury for over 50 years. The Manheims still have a residence there. Granddaughter Francesca Manheim, violinist with the Kansas City Symphony and the Brookside Quartet, held the first annual children's concert, Cookies and Tunes, at their Island home the first week in July.

Mr. Manheim served Kansas City throughout his life. He served on the board of the Lyric Theater and was active in the Ineffectuals and other civic organizations.

He is survived by his wife, Sheelagh Manheim and her children; his son, Frank Tibor Manheim; several grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

A memorial event will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, August 3, at the University Center, University of Missouri at Kansas City, 5000 Holmes (parking at 50th and Rockhill). In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Miller Nichols Library, E. Manheim Fund, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.