Edward William Daniels
Edward William Daniels, 71, of Salisbury N.H., passed away on June 28, 2024, at Elliott Hospital in Manchester N.H. Mr. Daniels was born on July 28, 1952, in Nashua, N.H. He was the son of the late Arthur C. and Florence B. Daniels of Nashua. Ed was a longtime Salisbury resident.
He was a 1970 graduate of Nashua High School and a 1974 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, where he received a BA degree in Ancient History/Greek Classics. While at UNH he threw the hammer weight, as a member of the men’s track & field team. He also earned a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Rhode Island.
For more than three decades, he served as a Librarian for the student population and faculty at the Southern New Hampshire University (FKA New Hampshire College) Shapiro Library in Manchester. During his tenure he became a full Professor. Prior to retiring he was awarded Professor Emeritus status. During his last decade of service, he was responsible for managing the SNHU Online Student Library Services program, which provides information services to a global student population. After retiring, he returned for a year to serve as interim Dean of the library system.
Ed also served as a board of directors’ member for the Katie Bentley Lilac Project, a Salisbury NH non-profit organization that provides ways for individuals, institutions, schools, and municipalities to promote the love of lilacs in America.
His passion for throwing the hammer continued throughout his adult years. He participated in many USATF (USA Track & Field) Masters track and field local, regional, national, and international adult competitions.
Combined with his competitive throwing, Ed had a 52 year-long track & field career as a coach, meet manager, official and NHIAA (New Hampshire Interscholastic Athlete Association) committee member. He coached student-athletes at Oyster River, Raymond and Alvirne High Schools.
In 2019 he completed 37 years as assistant track coach at Londonderry High School. He developed student-athletes in a variety of events including jumps, sprints, hurdles, relays, decathlons and the weight throws. Among his student-athletes were many individual class champions, and New Hampshire state champions.
When SNHU initiated a Women’s Track & Field program in 2014, Ed served as volunteer coach in the hammer and weight throwing events. In 2016 he became the Women’s Track & Field team throws coach. He developed two NCAA All-Americans who individually excelled at the shot put and javelin. Ed gifted SNHU with an endowment that provides budget resources to fund a women’s team throws coach position for many years.
He loved working with all his athletes, as he helped them reach and exceed their goals, while focusing on proper technique, physical conditioning, mental preparation, practice routines and goal setting.
Ed enjoyed playing golf. He participated in many charity and fundraising tournaments. On the links, he competed against his brothers and cousins, enjoying the advantage of often playing from the middle of the fairways, while they benefited from his generosity, when he frequently conceded their two-foot putts. He enjoyed summer golf trips to southern California, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado, and Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Ed is survived by three brothers, a sister, many cousins and two nieces. Charles (Jeannie) Daniels and their two daughters, Ann Marie Daniels, Robert Daniels, and Paul Daniels.
Internment services will be private with a “celebration of life” for Ed to be held at a later date.
Those wishing to make a charitable donation in Ed’s memory, are invited to give to:
Katie Bentley Lilac Project; PO Box 269; Salisbury, NH 03268 http://www.katiebentleylilacproject.com
or the SNHU Women’s Track and Field Team via the SNHU Athletic Giving Support donation website:
https://alumni.snhu.edu/make-a-gift/athletics/donate
To sign an online guestbook please visit www.chadwickfuneralservice.com.