Remembering Bill Mann
Minnetrista lost a dear friend when Bill Mann passed away on New Year’s Day. Bill was a Minnetrista fixture from the time he became property manager to the most recent Farmers Market days. He greeted everyone with a wide smile, a firm handshake, and often, a big bear hug.
As property manager, he supervised the care of the Minnetrista grounds and other Ball properties, and managed what is now The Orchard Shop at Minnetrista. He brought the care, precision, and structure of his 32-year Navy career to all that he did. Kevin Van Cott, one of Bill’s former teenage seasonal workers, remembers that Mann’s “Navy background influenced everything we did at the orchard, shop, and other Foundation properties. Every piece of equipment was maintained, every shop area was organized and clean-swept, every flowerbed was kept weed-free, and every grassy area was mowed. We cleaned and sharpened mower blades after every day’s use. On rainy days we washed and waxed the tractors and trucks. Shop areas were swept at the end of each day . . . Bill was my first boss, and the best boss I have ever had.”
My son, Jack Vincent, echoes those thoughts. Bill stopped me one day to ask if Jack would like to have a summer job. Of course I said yes, and Jack started as soon as school was out. He recalls that he spent afternoons of the first four or five weeks thinning apples every day. He said, “I was really happy (as were my thumbs) when I was finally allowed to run a push mower sometime in July.” He also remembered being well fed. He recalled that “Bill would regularly bring in yellow squash from his garden and cook it up for the crew for lunch. My personal favorite was our yearly cookout where the highlight was Bill’s smoked pork chops, which remain the best I’ve ever had. The fifteen-year-old version of me was able to down five of them, which delighted Bill to no end.” As Jack says, “When you worked for Bill, you worked hard. But he was always kind and generous to us.”
He was also kind and generous to the rest of us at Minnetrista. Collections staff often have to pick up large artifacts for the Minnetrista Heritage Collection. One day, I had to pick up stuff at a farm near Eaton, and Bill went with me. When we arrived, Bill got out of the truck and called “Rudy.” A large Rottweiler ran to us and jumped up on Bill, putting his paws on Bill’s shoulders. It was a tossup as to who was tallest, biggest, and strongest. After this affectionate reunion, Bill proceeded to pick up items that it would take two normal men to carry, and put them in his truck. This was just one of several times that Bill came to my aid.
As Marlesa Aber, another former staff member says, “I will always remember how sincere he was when he asked how my day was going.” Bill will be missed.
