McLean Hardware Mourns Loss of Young Employee

McLean Hardware employees are mourning the loss of a valued co-worker with the recent death of Christopher Mangis.

Mangis, 21, had worked at the store for about five years, said Manager Danny McMahon. Mangis died suddenly from natural causes Feb. 22.

“He’s definitely the standard we put everyone else up to,” McMahon said. “He was by far one of our best employees.”

Mangis—whom co-workers called Mango—was well-rounded and had lived in McLean since a child, McMahon said. He graduated from McLean High School, where he played the mini tuba in band and helped out the band director.

Mangis also helped McMahon coach Little League baseball for two years and played baseball in high school for two years. He loved to grill—and loved bacon—and loved to eat, McMahon said.

“He really was just generally a nice kid,” McMahon said. “He would help anybody out if you ever needed anything.”

Family and friends held a viewing March 3 and a funeral service March 4 at the Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church.