Obituary of Douglas J. Manchee

Doug Manchee, professor and chair of the advertising photography program in the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at RIT, passed away on March 29, 2018. Doug was born in Rochester, NY on November 24, 1954. He was predeceased by his father, Richard S. Manchee, and son Alexander E. Manchee, and is survived by his mother, Johanne Manchee, son Sean Manchee, and former wife, Barbara Manchee, in-laws Pam Roleder and Mike Prusack, nieces and nephews Kira Roleder, Anna Prusack, Makenzie Prusack and Max Roleder.

Doug loved his career as a teacher, photographer and designer. Early in his education, Doug studied graphic design in California with Greg Berryman and this exposure provided a visual sensitivity that served him well as he moved to a career as photographer, author, administrator and teacher. With multiple visual strengths, Doug was a superb critical thinker, enhancing his thinking, writing, teaching and scholarship. His photographic studies were influenced by master photographers and teachers Jack Welpott and Don Worth, with whom he studied at San Francisco State University.

Doug joined RIT in 1989, after a successful studio business in San Francisco. He first taught as an adjunct instructor in the School of Design before moving fulltime to the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences, where, as an associate professor, he taught in the advertising program and served as its current chair. For more than two decades, he was a devoted educator, beloved by students and alumni alike. In 2005, on the occasion of receiving the prestigious RIT Eisenhart Teaching Award, Doug said, “Far and away the best thing I love about my job is to walk into a classroom.” Doug also maintained an active career as a writer and photographic artist. His well-received book—Sutures and Spirits, The Photographic Illustrations of LeJaren à Hiller—was published by RIT Press in January 2018. By far, it was Doug’s work as a photographic artist that captured his insatiable curiosity about images and their cultural alignments. This was especially true in the many photographic projects that embraced both his attraction to and questioning of archives, books, and photographic reproduction. For Doug, the photograph offered an immeasurable world of cultural ideas with complex interplay. His many exhibited and published photographic series—which often hinted as his playful and wry humor—included 20 Works of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction; Concretions; In and Out of Print; and, Picturing the Archive. 

Doug was a dedicated teacher and mentor who expressed a wonderful sense of humor that was witty, insightful and just plain funny. His humor often softened difficult situations. Doug shared his enthusiasm for RIT with faculty colleagues via numerous service activities. For many years, he participated on the University’s Faculty Affairs Committee, Resource Allocation and Budget Committee, and the Eisenhart Award Committee, along with many other University, College and School groups that worked to shape curriculum with a keen eye to exceptional student learning. He served as a mentor to newly hired faculty in the Photo School, offering them insight and guidance as photo educators and creative practitioners. Beyond RIT, Doug dedicated his time and talents to Visual Studies Workshop (VSW). From 2012 to 2017, he was VSW board member, and, in 2015, named President of the Board. He held this post for two years. 

A celebration of Doug’s life will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, May 5th at RIT’s Allen Chapel, located in the Schmitt Interfaith Center. The RIT flag will be lowered to half-staff on that day in Doug’s memory. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Doug Manchee Student Support Fund in memory of Doug Manchee,  RIT Office of Development—Gift Office, P.O. Box 92765, Rochester, NY, 14692 or at rit.edu/makeagift