Former Manassas City Manager John G. Cartwright has passed away.
Cartwright, who was the City Manager from 1986 to 1999, died in his hometown of Traverse City, Michigan.
He began serving the City of Manassas before Metz Junior High School was established. At the time, the Wellington community was a dairy farm, according to a release.
Cartwright attended every meeting he knew about and maintained an “open door policy” to staff and community members.
“John was the first City Manager with whom I served,” Mayor Hal Parrish said in a release. “He was the consummate professional and had the great respect of not only our Council, but our entire staff within our City departments.
Parrish recalled one occasion where he was walking in City Hall with Cartwright.
“I asked him the most important part of his job and what he enjoyed the most. His answer … ‘Working with Council and creating a budget to serve our Citizens each year,’” Parrish said. “He did both, so well, and the City, our Citizens and our Council and staff benefitted by his professional service to Manassas.”
Cartwright was a fan of the University of Michigan, where he received his master’s.
He and his wife, C.J., retired to Michigan in 1999.
