Daniel magnotti

Daniel S. Magnotti, 80, of Amelia, Va., and formerly Wilmington, Del., passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Friday, May 3, 2013.

He was a beloved husband, devoted father, loving grandfather, generous uncle, wonderful friend, honorable military veteran, dedicated educator, and courageous polio and cancer survivor.

He was pedeceased by his parents, Vito and Mary Magnotti and sister, Therese Engle.

Daniel is survived by his loving bride of 50 years, Kay of Amelia, Va.; children, Stephen and Allie of Amelia, Va., Robert and Carolyn of Del.; Christopher and Ying of Calif.; four grandchildren, Alexander, George, Katherine and William. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Sam and Sue Magnotti of Montrose; sister and bother-in-law, Rose and Jim Gialanella of Binghamton, N.Y.; sister, Louise Rought of Conklin, N.Y.; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Daniel was born in Montrose and lived there until he went away to pursue his educational journey at Millersville University where he graduated with his Industrial Arts teaching degree. He was the first student to graduate from the Masters Program for Industrial Arts at Glassboro State College and continued to his education towards doctorate work at University of Delaware.

After college, he was drafted into the US Army where he served as a Sergeant. During his younger years he could be found hunting, trapping, and fishing the beautiful mountains of Pennsylvania. Daniel's passion for colonial wood working utilizing his authentic antique tools can be seen in his beautiful colonial furniture and authentic reproductions which he made for many. After retiring from more than 40 years of teaching, he moved to Southern Virginia where he lived up the "dirt road" from his family and loved spending time with his grandchildren teaching them his trade and enjoying daily meals as a family. Daniel became known to many as the nice little Italian man in Amelia and will be missed by the many people he touched in his life. He was a member of the Good Samaritan Church in Amelia, Va.

Public viewing will be held at Hillsman-Hix Funeral home on Wednesday, May 8, from 6-7 p.m.; a private Catholic burial is planned for Thursday, May 9th at Good Samaritan Church in Amelia, Va., with military burial to follow at Virginia Veteran's Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be to Autism Speaks to help find a cure for the many children, including some of his grandchildren, at autismspeaks.org.

Arrangements entrusted to Hillsman-Hix funeral home.