Manny Nosowsky, a beloved crossword puzzle creator for The New York Times, passed away at 94 in San Francisco. His wife, Debby, confirmed the news.
Before his puzzle-making career, Manny worked as a urologist for about 20 years. However, after a health scare in 1983, he decided to retire. With newfound free time, he began solving crossword puzzles with his wife. Curiosity struck: how were these puzzles created? So, he decided to give it a try himself.
His first puzzle came out in The Times in 1992, thanks to editor Eugene T. Maleska. Manny preferred working alone, starting on graph paper and later using puzzle-making software. Yet, he always filled in grids by hand and enjoyed writing his own clues. This personal touch brought a unique flair to his work.
His creativity earned him accolades. Will Shortz, The Times’ crossword editor since 1993, called him “a national treasure.” Manny created 246 puzzles under Shortz and 8 under Maleska. He also made history with the first crossword in The Wall Street Journal in 1998, titled “Double Digit Inflation.”
Manny’s influence didn’t end there; in the 2000s, he contributed to Parnell Hall’s “Puzzle Lady” mystery series, where puzzles tied into the story’s plot. This connection of puzzles with storytelling reflects a growing trend in media, with many now combining different forms of entertainment.
Born in 1932 in San Francisco, Manny later moved to Minnesota. He earned his medical degree from the University of Minnesota in 1956 and served in the Air Force from 1959 to 1961. After a brief practice in Southern California, he spent 17 years with Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco.
Manny was active in the crossword community and a regular at the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament. For him, recognition from his peers mattered more than his medical achievements. He retired from puzzle-making in 2010.
He is survived by his wife, two children, and five grandchildren. Known for his humor, he once said to grateful patients: “Please tell my mother.” His contributions to both medicine and puzzles will be remembered.
For those interested in puzzles, exploring resources like the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament can provide insights into this engaging activity that blends creativity and logic.
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Nosowsky, Manny (1932-2026),Deaths (Obituaries),Crossword Puzzles,New York Times,Shortz, Will
