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Matthew Charles Manelli, 59, treasured husband, father, stepfather, brother, friend, and steadfast St. Louis Cardinals fan, died on February 10, 2025, at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC, after a short battle with aggressive cancer. During his time on earth, he made the world better, showering the people he loved with love, kindness, loyalty, wit, humor, respect, and remarkable devotion. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Charles Joseph Manelli and Ann Marie (Geoghegan) Manelli, Matt grew up an avid tennis player and sports enthusiast. He graduated from the Catholic all-boys Chaminade College Preparatory School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, where he was a proud member of the Sigma Nu Fraternity. He also earned a master’s degree in business administration from Michigan State. His career started at Ernst & Young in Chicago and at Deloitte & Touche in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He then worked for Federal Signal Corporation in Chicago, Barcelona, and Michigan. In 2004, he joined Nucor Steel in Darlington, South Carolina. In 2021, he joined Sonoco Products Company in Hartsville, South Carolina, where he held the controller position for the company’s Flexible Packaging Business. Matt was fluent in Spanish and possessed a natural gift for languages, often blending Spanish and Italian as a nod to his half-Italian, half-Irish heritage. He was a USTA-certified professional tennis instructor, completed the New York City Marathon, and enjoyed traveling with his wife. He blessed his children with hilarious stories, sound advice, and an endless supply of critical information (some may argue only to be helpful in a bar trivia game). In recent years, he developed a love for cooking, which he combined with his appreciation of Frank Sinatra music, often prepping a meal while belting out “Fly Me to the Moon,” “I Got You Under My Skin,” and “Luck Be a Lady.” In addition to telling corny Dad Jokes, he often shared the story of striking out Slash from Guns N’ Roses during a pick-up game in Lincoln Park. It was a highlight of his early post-college years. Matt is survived by his wife, Kim Walker Bowman of Hartsville, SC; children, Stephanie Marie Manelli of Fort Mill, SC, Matthew Reagan Manelli of Dallas, TX, and Michael Andrew Manelli of Columbia, SC; stepchildren, Dr. Chip Stein Bowman of New York, NY, Chad Walker Bowman (Mary Kate) of Columbia, SC, and Catie Beth Bowman (Kevin Duncan) of Kilkenny, Ireland; brother and sister-in-law, Mark and Suzanne Manelli of St. Louis, MO; and his faithful dog, Donatello. Matt’s family and close friends will honor his life in a private, at-home celebration. They ask that you share your favorite memory of Matt in writing and mail it to Kim Bowman at 519 Woodland Drive, Hartsville, SC, 29550, for his family to treasure forever. Matt was a faithful supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To donate in his memory, please visit: www.fundraising.stjude.org/goto/MattManelli.

Tributes

Mr. Matthew Charles Manelli

November 23, 1965 - February 10, 2025