Robert Cornelius "Bob" Danaher

Mystic - Robert Cornelius Danaher, 94, passed away on Feb. 1, 2017, in Mystic. Those who knew him will understand that his family feels they are the luckiest people on earth to have had him as their father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Bob Danaher was a rare combination of joy, warmth, humor and caring. He was the son of the late John A. and Dorothy K. Danaher of Meriden.

Bob was married for more than 72 years to the late Margaret Salkeld of Washington, D.C. He is survived by four children and their spouses, R. Cornelius and Eileen Danaher of Mystic; James and Andrea Danaher of Lansdale, Pa.; Anne Connelly and Barrington Parker of Palm Beach, Fla.; and Margaret and George Garikes of Washington, D.C. He is also survived by his brother, John A. Danaher Jr., and his sister, Jeanne Lennhoff, and several nieces and nephews. He loved and was extremely proud of his nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren.

An avid athlete and scholar, Bob Danaher attended Kingswood School where he was captain of the football team. Following high school, Bob entered Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where he was sports editor of the campus newspaper, The Hoya, and was honored with the Horace Award for Latin and the Morris Historical Medal.

World War II interrupted his college career and Mr. Danaher entered the U.S. Navy in 1943. Serving as Executive Officer of the USS Scribner, APD 122, and seeing duty in the Pacific, China, Vietnam and the Atlantic. Upon completion of his naval duties in 1946, he returned to Georgetown to complete his undergraduate degree and enter Georgetown Law Center in an accelerated two-year program.

Finishing law school in 1946, he begin a distinguished law career that spanned more than fifty years. Initially active in politics, Mr. Danaher served on the staff of Governor John Lodge and later as administrative assistant to United States Senator, William A. Purtell.

Wishing to enter private practice, Mr. Danaher specialized as a legal defense attorney and became a founding member of the Law Firm of Danaher, Lewis and Tamoney. After many years with DLT, Mr. Danaher was named counsel to the law firm of Danaher, Lagnese and Neal, while also acting as an Adjunct Professor at UCONN Law School. Further realizing the importance of a strong legal administrative system, he was an incorporator, founding member and chairman of The Connecticut Attorneys Title Insurance Company and chairman of several committees of the Connecticut Bar Association, eventually serving as treasurer of the CBA. He was the author for many years of The Hartford Letter which summarized legislation of interest to the Bar Association as enacted by the General Assembly.

Understanding the importance of contributing to the community, Bob was active in numerous non-profit organizations and served as president of the Hartford Kiwanis Club and the 4-H Hartford County Camp.

In recognition of his stewardship to the community and his leadership in the law, Governor Dannel Malloy declared Dec. 22, 2012, "Robert C. Danaher Day" in the State of Connecticut.

Most important to Bob, to those who knew him, was his love of family. From family skiing trips, to Sunday Elizabeth Park baseball games, to summers spent in Longport, N.J., to the evening family dinners, he had an easy, loving presence that gave his children the priceless gift of knowing that they were greatly loved, That as a family, they were given the precious gift of each other. He will be greatly missed. Quite simply, he was magic.

The funeral and burial was private. In lieu of flowers, please consider a family based charity of your choice or The Georgetown University Robert C. Danaher Scholarship Fund, Department #0734, Washington, DC 20073.

The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic is assisting the family.