Thad MANDSAGER

MANDSAGER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:58

Thad Mandsager
14 February 1979 ---- 30 August 2014

The city of Dover and the state of New Hampshire lost one of its community leaders on Saturday, August 30th, 2014. Thad Mandsager, 35 years old, died unexpectedly at his home watching the season opener of his beloved Iowa Hawkeye football team.

Born February 14, 1979 in Marshalltown, Iowa, Thad at age 4 was paralyzed after a fall from bed. Throughout his life, Thad was known for his indomitable spirit and his wit. His clever use of sarcasm was well known and brought smiles and giggles to those who knew him well, while leaving others just scratching their heads. He was a master of the English language and used his oral and writing gifts to amuse his friends and colleagues, but he also wrote professionally, winning a number of grants to benefit the kids and families of Dover.

Thad’s leadership at Dover Housing Authority’s Seymour Osman Community Center (SOCC) began in 2001 when he was a senior at University of New Hampshire (UNH), where he completed an internship as part of his social work major. After graduation, he completed an AmeriCorps year at SOCC before being hired as a full-time youth worker there. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to the Director of Family Services. Under his leadership at SOCC, numerous organizations and institutions joined hands in partnership to expand the reach and opportunities for the kids of Dover, including 4-H, the New Hampshire National Guard, AmeriCorps, Children’s Trust Fund, Toys 4 Tots, Gear for Grades, Woodman Park School, UNH, and others.

‘Mr. Thad’ as he was known to the kids of Dover, just had a way with kids. Trips made to his office could be for “behavior modification”, encouragement, or just to say hi to Thad or his service dog. Whatever the reason, those kids always left feeling better about the day. Hundreds of kids will miss those “sessions” in his office, but it was not only the kids of Dover that adored him. As his niece, Grayce, noted, “He loved to talk historical with Zak and me so we got ‘more education’.” On a trip to Uganda in East Africa, he was often seen driving down the dirt road with kids from the ChildVoice Lukome Center riding on the back of his chair.

He cared not only about kids, but their parents and families as well. Whether it was making sure that a mom’s child had shoes for the first day of school or getting their kids into CampSTREAM (a SOCC summer program), he tirelessly worked behind the scenes to make families stronger and healthier.

Thad’s commitment to community development was not only limited to his work with the Dover kids and families. A member of the Dover Rotary Club, Dover Chamber of Commerce and the Dover Kids Cabinet, Thad was also active as a volunteer with Canine Companions for Independence and ChildVoice. He also served on the board of Granite State Independent Living, helping to offer choice and independence for those living with disabilities, as well as on the board of the Dover Coalition of Youth.

Thad leaves behind his parents, Conrad and Kathy Mandsager (Nottingham, NH), his older brother Nathan and sister-in-law, Pam, his nephew, Zak, and niece, Grayce, (Schenectady, NY), his younger sister, Alison (Nottingham, NH), his paternal and maternal grandparents and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, along with his team of personal care attendants and roommates. And, of course, Neelia, his service dog. Thad was preceded in death by his first service dog, Tyne.

We invite you to join all of us that Thad loved and served for a Celebration of Thad’s Life this Friday, September 5 at 5:30 pm at the Woodman Park Elementary School, 11 Towle Ave, Dover, NH.

Thad’s family would ask that legacy gifts be given to one of the three charities that he was passionate about – Canine Companions for Independence, ChildVoice, or the Seymour Osman Community Center.

Trinity Lutheran Church Cemetery
Hardy, Humboldt County, Iowa