TONY 'CHUB' MANTO


SPECIAL CONTRIBUTOR


YEAR OF INDUCTION: 2017



His nickname is Chubby or Chub.

And he is not chubby.

Never was, really, except for perhaps a very short time while he was an infant.

"When I was a baby, my aunt called me that and it stuck," Anthony Manto said.

Among the many other things that his family bestowed on him, along with another obvious nickname -- Tony -- was a love of sports.

"I probably get my love of baseball from my father," Manto said. "He loved the Yankees and he loved Joe D(iMaggio). I played basketball, and I played tennis for recreation, but I've loved baseball since I was a kid."

Growing up in "North Trenton," he played Little League, Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball. He also played baseball at Trenton Catholic High School and Trenton Junior College.

He landed on the East side of Hamilton Township, where with wife Joann (his high school sweetheart), he raised three Steinert graduates: Anthony, Class of 1983; Sharon, Class of '85; and Michael, Class of '87. He also got involved in the athletic program at SHS and served as president of the Baseball Booster Club for 25 years.

The relationship between Chubby and SHS Baseball was rewarding for all involved.

"To me, getting things done for the kids was the best part," Manto said. "Every penny went back into the program.

"One of my favorite memories is winning that first state championship. And, all the things that the Booster Club did as a whole. Redoing infields, installing sprinkler systems, building dugouts, building the press box. The field is fantastic."

While they were building those things, they were also building friendships and a strong sense of community.

Manto credits fellow Booster Club officers Joe Ganci, Bob Kroschwitz and Tom Larkin and he is thankful for the support of the area businesses and residents.

"If you don’t have the support of the community, you're not going anywhere," he said.

Manto also had a rewarding career as he managed office operations at The Medical Society of New Jersey. He also was an ASA umpire for 25 years.

Other than golf courses, another favorite place for Manto is Long Beach Island, where he has summered for more than 50 years.

Chubby and Joann have five grandchildren.


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