THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Sharon Manitta, the founding Communications Director of Democrats Abroad and the long serving Press Coordinator for the organisation’s British committee, Democrats Abroad UK, passed away on May 26. She was 78 and was in a second battle with cancer after defeating it several years before.
She was a fierce advocate for DA and DAUK for more than 4 decades and fought equally hard for democratic principles in her profession as she did in politics and the press. Her experience outside of DA is as intriguing as her accomplishments on behalf of Democrats.
At the time of the Woodstock music festival of 1969, Sharon was just 21 but had already earned a place as a young editor and reporter for the Syracuse, NY, Post-Standard, as part of the “Pen and Pencil Set”, a group of high school editors hired by the newspaper from five local schools. Sharon was assigned to cover the “Teen Beat” and she made the most of her press pass to interview the biggest names in music touring through town, including John Lennon, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys. When Woodstock came along, there was no stopping her from heading a few hours down the highway from Syracuse to Yasgur's farm for the festival.
She earned her bachelor’s from Drew University and a second degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology. She worked for some of the top dress designers of the day in New York City but thumbed her nose at their conformist view of rail-thin female figures and democratised part of the industry by opening her own shop in Syracuse, Reuben’s Dreams, for sizes 12+ in 1972.
She won a fellowship to study textile conservation in the UK with the Courtauld Institute and moved here in 1988.
In politics, Sharon campaigned for Democratic candidates through 16 presidential elections. She was a leader in the early development of Democrats Abroad through the 1980s and 90s, creating the role of International Communications Director and setting professional standards of operation for the DA press office. She joined with other leaders of Democrats Abroad to organise the first DA meeting with a Democratic President, in 1995; she presented President Bill Clinton with a DA scarf she had woven for the occasion.
She led the DAUK press team from 2008 and again served DA international as Press Secretary from 2023 to 2025.
Sharon is survived by two younger brothers in America. Services will be held in Salisbury on July 7th and a London remembrance event is planned for a later date. For further information contact press@democratsabroad.org.uk
Sharon will be missed by her many friends and colleagues in DAUK and around the world.
