Joe & Martha Douce Maniaci Memorial Fund

The Joe & Martha Douce Maniaci Memorial Fund was created in 2023, memorializing the passing of Martha, Marion’s First Lady of Dance. Martha (1931-2020) was a living legend, having taught baton, dance, and cheerleading & tumbling in Marion since 1943.

Known for her flashy fashion sense, Martha could carry off glitter, feathers, and sequins with the best of them and has a heart of gold for making others shine. She was the namesake behind a chain of seven dance studios throughout Ohio and helped thousands of youngsters achieve their dance dreams.

She and Joe (1930-2002) studied ballroom dance at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City and won a dance contest at the World’s Fair.

This designated endowment fund, created by family members Joe & Kari Maniaci III, Marilyn & Russ McBride III, LuAnn & Kevan Hartman, and Suzanne & Tom Harris, honors the couple’s memory and legacy. It provides grants in support of Martha’s beloved Marion Palace Theatre.