Daniel David Cantor

CANTOR, Daniel David Passed away after midnight on Friday January 9, 2009, at the age of 85, at the Hospice Center of Delware in Milford, DE after a four year struggle with Parkinson's disease. Daniel David Cantor was born on November 10, 1923 to Reuben and Ethel (Bandes) Cantor in Staten Island as the youngest of three children with sister Muriel and brother Allan, both whom preceded him in death.After graduating from Curtis High School in 1941, Dan went on to study at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. College was interrupted by his World War II service, receiving his 2nd Lieutenant's commission on May 23, 1944, and flying in the Air Transport Command in the Middle East and South Asian theaters. He was honorably discharged in the fall of 1945 and returned to college in 1946. On September 14, 1947, Daniel Cantor wed his high school sweetheart, Marianne Seligman, whose first date was arranged by their mothers some seven years earlier. After graduating in 1948, Dan started work at the American Can Company and went to night school at New York University's business school earning an MBA in 1950. Dan later moved on to a personnel position at Brookhaven National Laboratories and in 1962 he joined Itek in Bedford, MA, rising to vice-president of personnel. With the death of his wife in July of 1969, after a two year battle with cancer, Dan joined the Peace Corps. In April, 1971, he was appointed Deputy Director in India, where he met his future wife, Marilyn (Mitzi) and daughter Cheryl. Dan then became Director of the Fiji Islands program in May, 1971 through January, 1976. In June, 1976, Dan joined Harvard University as the Director of Personnel from where he retired in 1988. Consulting jobs with the Harvard Institute of International Development took him to Brunei, Kenya, Ethiopia and to Cairo with SCORE. Dan's career and life were defined by his delight in working with people, seeing their potential and helping them realize their goals. He leaves his wife of 35 years, Marilyn, sons Steven (Jessie) & David (Jeanne), daughter Cheryl (Ralph) Watson & grandchildren Nathan, Evan, Haley, Augie & Annabel. Donations can be made to the Dan Cantor Memorial Fund at Fofiji.org.