| John L. Mann Sr. |
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2009
John L. "Johnny" Mann Sr., 92, who served two terms as business manager of
Plumbers Local 5, died Oct. 23 at St. Martin's Little Sisters of the Poor nursing
home in Catonsville, Md. He had complications from pneumonia.
Mr. Mann joined the local union as an apprentice in 1942 and later was a
journeyman plumber before being elected in 1955 to the highest office in the local
union, business manager. He served three years and was elected again from 1962
to 1964.
In that job, he negotiated employment contracts with Washington area plumbing
companies and introduced the first pension and vacation plans for the local
plumber's union.
From 1965 to his retirement in 1979, he worked with nonprofit organizations
developing programs to place Washington area minority youths as apprentices in
local construction unions.
John Louis Mann was a native Washingtonian and a 1936 graduate of McKinley
Technical High School. Afterward, he was a timekeeper for the Capital Transit,
the operator of Washington's streetcars, and a messenger for the Treasury
Department.
He served in the Army in Europe during World War II and participated in the
Battle of the Bulge.
He was a founding member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Landover Hills and
was a former president of its men's club and Holy Name Society.
His wife of 60 years, Katherine Mohler "Kitty" Mann, died in 2001. A son, Joseph
Mann, died in 1995.
Survivors include five children, John L. "Jack" Mann Sr. of Bethesda, Nora Barnes
of the Plains, Va., Elsie Dodd of Tallahassee, Fla., Katherine "Kit" Mann of
Crofton and Charlie Mann of Davidsonville; a brother, Jesse Mann of Washington;
10 grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.
-- Adam Bernstein
John L. "Johnny" Mann Sr., 92, who served two terms as business manager of
Plumbers Local 5, died Oct. 23 at St. Martin's Little Sisters of the Poor nursing
home in Catonsville, Md. He had complications from pneumonia.
Mr. Mann joined the local union as an apprentice in 1942 and later was a
journeyman plumber before being elected in 1955 to the highest office in the local
union, business manager. He served three years and was elected again from 1962
to 1964.
In that job, he negotiated employment contracts with Washington area plumbing
companies and introduced the first pension and vacation plans for the local
plumber's union.
From 1965 to his retirement in 1979, he worked with nonprofit organizations
developing programs to place Washington area minority youths as apprentices in
local construction unions.
John Louis Mann was a native Washingtonian and a 1936 graduate of McKinley
Technical High School. Afterward, he was a timekeeper for the Capital Transit,
the operator of Washington's streetcars, and a messenger for the Treasury
Department.
He served in the Army in Europe during World War II and participated in the
Battle of the Bulge.
He was a founding member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Landover Hills and
was a former president of its men's club and Holy Name Society.
His wife of 60 years, Katherine Mohler "Kitty" Mann, died in 2001. A son, Joseph
Mann, died in 1995.
Survivors include five children, John L. "Jack" Mann Sr. of Bethesda, Nora Barnes
of the Plains, Va., Elsie Dodd of Tallahassee, Fla., Katherine "Kit" Mann of
Crofton and Charlie Mann of Davidsonville; a brother, Jesse Mann of Washington;
10 grandchildren; and two great-grandsons.
-- Adam Bernstein
