Arthur Geoffrey McManis (known as Geoff), son of Arthur William, dentist, and Marie (nee Keating), was born in Cairns. He died in Sydney at the age of 94 after a series of strokes.

He had two brothers, Phillip and Keith. All came down to Sydney for their secondary education at St Ignatius College, Riverview. There Geoff excelled at many sports, particularly boxing. He entered Medicine at Sydney University and graduated in 1936. He did his hospital residency at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney and Royal Newcastle Hospital. He served in the RAAF from 1940 to 1946 in the Middle East, North Africa and Borneo and rose to the rank of Squadron Leader.

After the War he went to England for postgraduate study in thoracic medicine, working at Midhurst and Brompton Hospitals. He met English nurse, Marion Skilbeck, and they married in 1950. They were to have five children: Helen, Philip, Neil, Jeanne and Peter. Philip graduated in Medicine and pursued a career in Neurology, becoming a professor in Sydney and Fellow of the College. He died in 2004 at the age of 51.

On his return to Sydney, Geoff was appointed as physician to the Thoracic Units at St Vincent’s in 1950 and Royal North Shore in 1951. Being a senior honorary consultant to two Sydney teaching hospitals was rather unusual. In both places he was a very active teacher, mentor and dedicated physician. He was able to use his UK contacts and experience to help young would-be thoracic physicians to train at those institutions where he had worked. In addition to these hospital appointments, he served as a consultant physician to Lewisham and Concord Hospitals in Sydney and to the Sydney Metropolitan Mental Hospitals. He had a busy private practice in Macquarie Street. He retired from his hospital posts in 1976 and his practice a few years later.

In the wider sphere, he was active in promoting and representing his specialty. He became honorary secretary, then vice-president and later president of the National Tuberculosis and Chest Association. He was the last president of its medical wing, the Australian Laennec Society, which became the Australian Thoracic Society in 1960. He was thus the first president of that body which changed its title to the Thoracic Society of Australia in 1961. He attended national College meetings regularly.

He was also very active in other bodies. In his time he was Master of the Catholic Guild of St Luke, President of the Riverview Old Ignatians’ Union, Chairman of the St Vincent’s Medical Staff and President of the latter’s Reunion Society. Over the years he enjoyed watching sport, particularly rugby and cricket. He was always very fit, and had never smoked. He played regular tennis until he was 82. He also enjoyed music, and the arts in general.

Geoff’s hospital rounds became a popular institution. They would begin in the x-ray departments where there was standing room only. People came not just to learn but to hear his unceasing repertoire of stories and anecdotes. He never spoke ill of anyone and was much loved by a large number of enthusiastic colleagues, not only medical but nursing and physiotherapy.