Daniel J. Vaughan

CHATHAM — Daniel J. Vaughan, 87 died at Liberty Commons Rehabilitation & Skilled Care Center in North Chatham on Sunday, June 14, 2009.

Born in Shaker Heights, Ohio, on Oct. 20, 1921, he was married to the late Kathryn Ann (Wyman) Vaughan for 50 years. He graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1939, attended Case Western Reserve from 1940-1941 and enlisted in the Army in 1942, where he trained at Aberdeen Proving Ground and graduated from Officer Candidate School as a second lieutenant in 1943. He left the service as a first lieutenant in 1946 after serving at the Frankford Ordinance Depot in Philadelphia, Pa.

Moving back to Ohio, Mr. Vaughan worked as an industrial engineer for General Electric in the Lamp Division in Cleveland for 20 years, specializing in long range planning and planning systems.

While in Ohio, he was an active member of the Mentor Board of Education from 1957-1966, serving two years as vice president and two years as president. He also was chairman of the Troop Committee for the Mentor Troop 75, Boy Scouts of America.

In 1966, Mr. Vaughan moved to White Plains, N.Y., where he worked at General Electric Corporate Headquarters in New York City as the planning manager for the Consumer Products Group, followed by advancement in 1970 to the Corporate Executive Staff as manager of the Management Systems. In 1973, after 27 years of service to General Electric, he took early retirement, moved to West Chatham and established a management consulting business for 12 years, specializing in Management Systems, Strategic Planning and Organization Planning.

During the 1970s, Mr. Vaughan also worked for his son, Jon Vaughan, at Yankee Ingenuity in Chatham, refurbishing antique telescopes. In 1980, he opened his own store in Chatham, called The Spyglass, where he specialized in restoring and selling antique nautical instruments, becoming one of the world's largest dealers in antique mounted telescopes. In 1998, he sold his business to his longtime employee, Brad Finch, who subsequently moved the business to Brewster.

During his retirement, he traveled in the U.S. and abroad to Turkey, England, the Mediterranean, Panama, and went on safari in Africa, the highlight being a hot air balloon flight over the Serengeti Plains.

He is survived by three sons, Jonathan B. Vaughan of East Harwich, James W. Vaughan of Chatham, and David C. Vaughan of Alligator, Miss.; a daughter, Kathleen V. Johnson of South Orleans and Ludlow, Vt.; and granddaughter, Maren B. Johnson of Boston. He is predeceased by his wife, Kathryn (Wyman) Vaughan.

A private celebration of life will be held in the fall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Family Pantry, 133 Queen Anne Road, Harwich, MA 02645.