About

TMann is The Sober Guy, sobriety date 6/12/89. Born Thomas Harvey Mann, Philadelphia, PA, 2/21/52. Married with one child, Amelia. Raised in Sewickley, PA (near Pittsburgh) Formerly a resident of Trumansburg, NY, 1976-82; Washington, D.C. ’82-87; Trumansburg, NY (again) ’87- 97; and currrently a resident of Ithaca, NY, since 1997.

TMann has run a successful exterior/interior painting business since 1993, before that he worked sporadically for Masterpiece Painting (shout out). Prior to his sobriety, he was employed as a bartender, landscaper, and construction laborer. He dabbles in journalism, writing about sports and American culture. His writing has appeared in The Ithaca Journal, Ithaca Times, Trumansburg Free Press, Tompkins Weekly, and Ithaca Child. He has also worked as a cab driver, and for three summers he ran a summer soccer camp for children. He once helped repair all the furniture in Cascadilla Hall on the Cornell University campus.

TMann likes music. Since its inception in 1990 he has worked for the GrassRoots Festival of Music and Dance, and is in charge of site security and planning. He also serves on their board of directors. All music interests TMann. He knows a lot about jazz from its beginnings to around 1950.

TMann was a major figure in the establishment of Ithaca Community Recovery, a not-for-profit organization in Ithaca, NY, operating since 2000. He was an IRC board member from 2001-2003, served as President of the Board from 2004-06, and was employed as fundraiser and Director of Development from 2007-08. ICR’s mission is to rent space in the historic building at 518 W. Seneca St. in Ithaca, to twelve-step groups and related organizations.

TMann likes all sports and considers himself an authority on Major League Baseball. He is an excellent athlete. He plays tennis, golf, and slo-pitch softball. TMann grew up as a soccer player and once had a try out with The Pittsburgh Miners of the American Soccer Leahue. He did not make the team. TMann was a ranked USTA tennis player in the Mid-Atlantic states when he was twelve.  He has also played flag football, platform tennis (great game), raquet ball, squash, volleyball, is a very good ping pong player, and pool. He played basketball, but now is too old. He cross country skis poorly, and learned to ice skate at age 50 but does that poorly as well.

TMann likes to cook. It helped him get sober.  He  knows a lot about food and eats a lot, too.

Education: k-12 Sewickley Academy. College: Syracuse University, University of Pittsburgh, Allegheny College, Tompkins-Cortland Community College,  SUNY-Empire State.

TMann does not have a degree in anything.

Causes: TMann supports Doctors Without Borders, The Fresh Air Fund, Citizens for Global Solutions, The Food Bank of the Southern Tier, The Alzheimer’s Association. He is past president of the Board of Directors of Ithaca Community Recovery.

New cause: Recovery Works is a not-for-profit that provides employment opportunities and life skills for people in early recovery from drug and alcohol addiction. TMann is the board president and CEO.