David T. Daniel

David Thomas Daniel died Tuesday morning August 18th at Pomperaug Woods in Southbury Connecticut.  He was 96 years old.  He was born March 11, 1924 in Landrum, South Carolina and was the youngest of eight children. 

David attended Wofford College in Spartanburg SC in 1941 and was called from ROTC to active duty a year later.  He joined the 95th Infantry Division and was sent to battle in Europe in July 1944 where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant.  Many years later, Mr. Daniel was awarded the French Legion of Honor medal for his participation in the liberation of France. 

In 1947 David earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Richmond and later an MBA from Ohio State University.  For 13 years he worked in several management positions with McKesson and Robbins, at the time the largest entity in the pharmaceutical world.  From 1963 to 1974 he was the President of Ketchum, Inc. the nation’s 2nd largest drug wholesaler.

At age 50, David retired from the corporate world and continued with real estate development which started in the early sixties as a weekend hobby.  In addition to the construction of approximately 60 homes and 5 office buildings along the Connecticut shoreline, he built 550 condominium units and 120 apartment units in Madison.

David is predeceased by his wife, Elmira Briggs of Meriden, CT.  He is survived by his first wife Patricia Broman, their son Kenneth Daniel and their daughter Diane Close, their grandchildren Hillary Daniel, Evan Daniel, Jennifer Kantor and Sean Close and their great-grandchildren Leilani Daniel, Frederick Kantor and Gideon Close.

A graveside service will take place on Thursday August 27th  with full military honors.  A memorial gathering to celebrate his life will be planned for a later date.

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