James Brian Manville, 58, of Newtown died peacefully in his sleep the morning of March 25.

His loving wife, Barbara; their two sons, William of Ashburn, Va., and David of Thornton, Colo.; his sister, Nancy Mariano; his brother, Gerry Manville; and loving nieces, nephews, and cousins survive Mr Manville. His parents, Charles and Regina Manville; and his brother Thomas predeceased him.

Mr Manville gave his heart and soul to the community of Newtown. He was the current president of the Newtown Lions Club, where he had dedicated years of service. He was the recipient of the Melvin Jones Fellow award for dedicated humanitarian services. He was also very active in the Newtown United Methodist Church.

Truly his second family were the employees of New Castle Hotels in Shelton. Mr Manville joined New Castle Hotels & Resorts in 1998, where he was senior vice president of corporate accounting since 2005. He was a valued member of the New Castle team. His intelligence, sense of humor, thoughtful approach, and grace under pressure made Mr Manville a pleasure to work with. He was well liked and highly respected by everyone he interacted with and was widely admired for his integrity and professionalism.

Mr Manville was raised in Naugatuck. A 1976 graduate of Naugatuck High School, he attended Bryant College where he met his love Barbara. He graduated Bryant College in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in accounting.

Barbara and Mr Manville were married 1982 in Earlville, N.Y. They moved to Stratford to start their family. The Manvilles moved to Newtown in 1994. An avid golfer, Mr Manville loved his rock and roll classics and the New England Patriots. He brought together his neighbors many a time for his wonderful neighborhood cookouts.

Family, friends, and others whose lives were touched by Mr Manville are invited to the Honan Funeral Home, 58 Main Street, Newtown, from 4 to 7 pm, on Wednesday, March 29. A funeral service will be conducted at Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, Sandy Hook, on Thursday, March 30, at 11 am. Interment will follow at Newtown Village Cemetery, Elm Drive, Newtown.

Donations in Mr Manville's memory can be made to the Newtown Lions Club, PO Box 218, Newtown CT 06470, to support continued local and international charitable projects.