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Robert "Bob" Mangano, a businessman who rose from
JC Penney sales clerk to the proprietorship of a
nationally known electric bulb and lighting company,
passed away on Thursday, July 28 at Millard
Fillmore Suburban Hospital after a brief
illness. He was one month shy of his 77th birthday.
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Mr. Mangano, the son of the late Angelo and Louise
Bevilacqua Mangano, was born in Buffalo and was
graduated from
Buffalo Technical High School. He
earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business
Management from the then
University of Buffalo
in 1962. While at UB he managed the men's
basketball team under head coach Len Serfustini and
began a twenty-year run as a member of the
International Association of Basketball
Officials, refereeing Western New York high
school games.
Upon graduating from UB, he was employed as a sales
clerk at the JC
Penney store in Rochester New York.
After returning to Buffalo in 1973 he opened his own
business, Bob's
Galley, a restaurant on East Delavan
Avenue.
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In 1980, he changed business venues and opened
The Bulb Man on Elmwood Avenue, supplying bulbs and electric
supplies to retail and business consumers locally
and nationally. His firm was among the first in
Western New York to carry lighting for SAD (seasonal
affective disorder) a condition caused by winter
lack of sunlight.
The Bulb Man
was in the forefront of innovative lighting
including halogen fluorescents, compact fluorescents
and LEDs. He sold the business in 2011. |
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Mr. Mangano was a member of the high school
fraternity
Tau Zeta Tau,
and before and after retirement was a member and
active officer of Buffalo’s
Per Niente Club,
for which he helped plan, organize and put into
effect numerous charitable activities for the
benefit of needy individuals, families and
organizations in Buffalo and Western New York. An
example of the level of his commitment was his
personal delivery of scholarship checks, holiday
turkeys, and clothing to the club's beneficiaries.
He still met weekly for breakfast with his high
school friends, enjoyed golf with Per Niente
club members and had been an avid pickle ball
player.
Recently, Mr. Mangano took commercial vehicle driver
training for a position as a driver for
First Student,
for which he transported disabled children, who grew
to love him in just one season, and called him "Mr.
Bob".
He was pre-deceased by his parents and a sister,
Jacqueline Damen. He is survived by his devoted
wife of 30 years, Ursula Mangano (nee McHugh), and
his loving family: a sister, Marilynn (Arthur Chubb)
Buckham, a daughter Renee Marie (Ari) Bouris, a son
Joseph Angelo, a grandson, Peter Robert Bouris, his
niece Marilou Muscato Maglione, nephew Michael
(Connie) Muscato and great-niece Alicia Muscato.
The family informs
The News
that a list of his friends would fill two editions.
Condolences may be given on-line at
http://bit.ly/CondolencesForBobby
Donations may be made in Bob's memory to the Per
Niente Christmas Club Fund, 264 Linden Avenue,
Buffalo, New York 14216.
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