Walter DANNHAUSER

1930 - 2022

DANNHAUSER - Walter
The family of Walter Dannhauser is sad to announce his passing on Thursday, September 8, 2022. Walter is survived by Rosemary (nee Niemiec), his loving wife of 69 years; three sons: Thomas (Mary Ann), David (Jamie), and Robert (David); two grandchildren: Andrew and Tyler; two sisters: Gabrielle and Marianne; and many nieces and nephews. Walter was born on June 2, 1930 in Munich, Germany to Joseph and Marie Dannhauser. In 1937, the family emigrated to the United States to escape the virulent nationalism and racism of Nazi Germany, ultimately settling in Franklin Park, New Jersey where they owned and operated Pleasant Plains Farm. Walter attended Rutgers University where he was a Henry Rutgers scholar, elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and graduated with a B.S. in chemistry. He subsequently studied physical chemistry at Brown University, earning his Ph.D. in 1953. After a brief stint in the corporate world at DuPont, Walter worked at SUNY/Buffalo where he was an Associate Professor of Chemistry. He taught many students general freshman chemistry, thermodynamics, and physical chemistry. He also conducted research in physical chemistry serving as a thesis advisor to several chemistry graduate students. Many of his colleagues became lifelong friends. One of the highlights of his career was his sabbatical leave year in 1965 at Dartmouth College. The family moved to Thetford, Vermont to accompany him, living in an old rural farmhouse where they hiked, bird-watched, skied, and enjoyed life in the country while becoming part of the community there. Walter retired from SUNY and began a second career of volunteering. He was a dedicated and reliable volunteer for RID (Remove Intoxicated Drivers), the Erie County SPCA, Radio Reading Service, Compassion and Choices, and Meals on Wheels. He also had more time to spend on his interests in gardening, photography, and bridge. Walter and Rosemary together had a lifelong love of music, regularly attending Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Buffalo Chamber Music Society concerts. They gave their love of music to their children, supporting all three in their own musical endeavors. Many of Walter and Rosemary's friends also attended BPO concerts and enjoyed meeting for dinners and desserts following the concerts. Walter had an enduring curiosity for nature and culture that he explored by traveling with Rosemary. Together, they visited many US National Parks, the Lewis and Clark Trail, Hawaii, Alaska, Africa, France, Italy, the Norwegian coast and the Panama Canal. The family has vacationed on Keuka Lake each summer for the last 25 years, where Walter and the family enjoyed swimming, walking, sailing, cooking and eating, and the antics of dogs and their owners. Our thanks to our landlord Bill Goulburn for his generosity over the years. Our family has always admired Walter's variety of interests and mastery of many of these. He showed us the power of disciplined thinking and actions, tempered with a willingness to consider new points of view, compassion and forgiveness. He was generous and loving, and we loved him dearly. Friends are invited to Celebrate Walter's Life at a luncheon on Sunday, September 18, at 1:00 PM at the Glen Oak Golf Club, 711 Smith Road, East Amherst.