Barton Lionel Manaker 1939-2023. Born February 13, 1939 in Hartford, CT, Died September 4, 2023 in Delray Beach, FL. Bart graduated from Weaver High School in Hartford, Ct. in 1957 and from The Citadel Military College of South Carolina in 1961. He obtained his Masters in Business Administration from University of Massachusetts in 1963 and joined the Air National Guard. Bart followed in his father’s footsteps to start his career in the automobile industry. He began with Volkswagen of America as they were launching the iconic Beetle in the US market. Thereafter, he opened dealerships for Porsche, Audi, Chrysler and Plymouth. He was the youngest owner of a Porsche Audi dealership in the USA, and served as president of the Connecticut National Automobile Dealers Association. In addition, he was also appointed to the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut State Universities. Bart sold his dealerships and transitioned into a new role as CEO of Celebrations, Inc., an accessories company that he and Dahlia acquired in 1986. Five years later, the couple sold Celebrations and permanently relocated from West Hartford, CT to Boca Raton, FL. There, Bart and Dahlia continued in the accessories business until he retired to spend time with his children, grandchildren and his many friends. Bart was known for his big-hearted generosity and kindness, for being fun-loving and up for anything, and for being a consummate gentleman. Although not religious by traditional standards, Bart lived his life by the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Bart is survived by his wife of 36 years, Dahlia, who he adored, his four sons Seth, Wade, Keith and Matthew Manaker, his step-children Peter Appleton, Beth Furman and Amie Greenspan, his sons- and daughters-in-law Barbara Manaker, Diana Manaker, Lauren Manaker, Deanna Appleton, Dan Furman and John Greenspan, and his grandchildren Aaron, Danya, Harriet, Nathan, Hannah, Jacob, William, Eli, Isabel, Ethan, Anna and Brian. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 7th at 10 am at Fairview Cemetery, 200 Whitman Ave., in West Hartford.
