Nicholas ‘Nick’ Joseph Mangus, Jr., 83, of Huntsville, passed away Tuesday at his home.
Nick was born in Warren, PA. He graduated from Warren High School, attended Gannon University and received a BS degree in mathematics. After being drafted into the Army, Nick was stationed at Redstone Arsenal Missile Command in Huntsville where he continued to work on numerous missile programs for the next 34 years. After retiring in 1986, Nick worked in the missile arena with Dynetics for another nine years. His specialties were in electro-optics, radar and systems engineering. Most notable he worked as Deputy Project Manager on the Hell Fire Missile Project, still in use by the military today.
Nick was also a talented artist. He taught drawing classes at the Senior Center and has many of his painting on display at the Center. For the next 19 years, he and his wife, Irene, worked as volunteers for the Huntsville Botanical Garden’s Christmas display. As a member of the original Galaxy of Lights crew he helped design and build over 200 displays. Nick was awarded the Garden’s Vernon Bush Distinguished Service Award in 2012 for his work with Galaxy of Lights. Nick was proud to be a member of the Galaxy crew, a group of people who not only respect and care about each other, but who are deeply committed to the mission of creating great Galaxy of Lights events, year after year.
Nick is survived by his wife of 62 years, Irene; daughters, Kathleen Nash (Antonio) and Kelly Maltagliati (Richard); sons, Gary Mangus (Janet), Nicholas Mangus, III (Rita) and Mark Mangus; six loving grandchildren; one great-grandchild; sister, Collette Moffatt; and brother, John Mangus. He was preceded in death in his sister, Mary Mangus.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 30 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, followed by a memorial service at 11. A reception will follow at the church.
Memorial donations may be made to the St. Joseph Catholic Church’s building funds or the Huntsville/Madison County Botanical Garden.
