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Henry E. McDaniel

Henry McDaniel Obituary

Quincy Henry E. McDaniel, 101, of Quincy, March 2, 2008 . "Life without fishing, I don't think so!" By the time Henry McDaniel got the tee shirt, it was too late for him to agree, but he would have. His life had been framed and inspired by wild fishing in the wild woods of Vermont and Canada. Fly-fishing of course. His passions were Atlantic Salmon & Vermont Brookies, and his art, which was a sort of telling his fish stories in absolutely elegant and accurate watercolors of rivers and lovers of rivers They were real, but not photographic. Waters lit by having meandered through Henry's heart and soul. Life without painting, life without the agility to play the Steiff baby grand which kept Chopin and Debussy alive in him, life without Louise, without his son Edison, without his sisters Kay & Jean and his niece Jane. These were irredeemable grievous losses. He had "survived damn near everything" just as the pin on his crushable hat informs us. His car falling into Musquodoboit Harbor, stolen paintings, forgeries, terrible changes in the planet and the deaths of so many. Last Sunday morning he died at 101 and bequeathed his survivors his love, his many stories, and paintings, but more important, perhaps, his passion and his soul's longing for the healing of this languishing planet. He was born in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia in 1906. He graduated from Vesper George School of Art in 1927. He was married to E. Louise Whiton, Quincy Mayor J. L. Whiton's daughter in 1931. He was an Advertising Art Director for several Boston Firms. He was a Member of Guild of Boston Artists, N.E.Watercolor Society, Hudson Valley Art Assn. He was predeceased by his wife and his son H. E. McDaniel, Jr. He is survived by his son Joseph W. McDaniel, 3 grandchildren, Paul from Anniebrook, W.Australia; Bruce from Mamaroneck, NY; Diana from Kaneohe, HI and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to The Miramichi Salmon Assn, c/o Seaward Management, 265 Franklin St., Boston 02110 or Americanrivers.org or Wollaston Congregational Church,Winthrop Ave, Quincy, MA 02170. A Graveside Service will be held on Earth Day, April 22, 1p.m., at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy.

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Published by The Patriot Ledger on Mar. 8, 2008.

Memories and Condolences
for Henry McDaniel

16 Entries

Mary Lee and Ken Caldwell

March 2, 2021

Henry was one amazing man.

Mary Lee and Ken Caldwell

April 7, 2008

Henry was our neighbor for 14 years and our friend until March 2008. What a role model. He, Mary and I (and our various dogs) went hiking at World's End in Hingham until he was about 96. He painted those beautiful paintings until he was 100 and he still played classical piano at 101. His memory never dimmed. He had good genes, a strong body and mind but he also had a strong will and never gave in to being old. We always admired and loved Henry. We will miss him but we will never forget him.

Mike Hiza

April 7, 2008

Although I’ve only known Henry a few years, I feel truly blessed that he called me a friend. My visits to Quincy, with the wonderful conversation and great hospitality of Joe, Mary and Henry have made an indelible impression on me. Henry’s wit, humor and amazing memory made him such a remarkable man. I so looked forward to his wonderful stories of the Miramachi, Wasson Bar, and his trout fishing adventures in Vermont. As we surveyed his paintings, he took me through each one with such vivid recall and attention to detail that I felt I was there beside him. He touched so many of us and we are so fortunate to have known him.
Joe and Mary; thank you for your devotion to him, you allowed Henry to live and share “his wonder life” for all those 101 years.

Bill Cruickshank

April 6, 2008

I am honored to have been among the many hundreds of Henry's friends
for almost fifty years. Of greater significance to my life has been Henry's recognition of my appreciation of his water paintings of trout and salmon fishing in the New England states and Canada. There has never been another artist his equal that has been capable of producing a picture with a complete scope of the environment necessary to place a viewer right there at his favorite pool.
Henry's level of intelligence allowed him to transpose a scene from memory to a brush on paper, creating a scene. This was his greatest skill. He has now left hundreds of scenes in the possession of avid flycasting fishermen who in showing them to family and friends, will surely contribute to keeping his memory alive for generations to come.
I know that I and my family will do that and be proud and honored to exclaim; "That painting was done by my good and dear friend Henry McDaniel".

Reg & Bea Short

April 6, 2008

We wish to express our sympathy to the McDaniel family. Mr. McDaniel's support of the Atlantic Salmon Museum and the Doaktown area will be greatly missed.

Kelly and Chris Weldon

April 2, 2008

I met Mr. McDaniel just 6 weeks prior to his passing away. My husband, father and I visisted in January to learn more about a beautiful painting of Mr. McDaniels's that I am lucky enough to have purchased. Mr. McDaniel, Joe and Mary were warm and welcoming and we were immediately taken in by their warmth and kindness. Mr. McDaniel was sharp as a tack, recalling stories of his fishing trips and family life. He was full of charm and humor and I feel incredibly blessed to have met him. It truely was a life changing event and I will miss him deeply and hope to always be friends with Joe and Mary. I know Mr.McDaniel is in a wonderful place now with his wife and son. They are fishing, playing the piano and painting with great joy.

John & Barbara Good

March 19, 2008

Henry touched our lives with joy, zest for life, and the beauty of his paintings which we believe were painted from his soul and inspirations of his love of fishing and waters of New England and Nova Scotia. We were priviledged to have known him and to have had him as our friend. Our lives have been enriched through his life and times. We will miss him greatly.

William and Audrey MacKinnon

March 16, 2008

It was a privilege to have met your Dad several years when he so generously displayed many of his paintings at the Atlantic Salmon Museum in our village. We join the many folks from the Miramichi area in extending our sincere sympathy to you and the entire family. May God's love bring peace and comfort to you all.

Marilyn Mclean

March 14, 2008

Hello Joe - I am so sorry to learn of your wonderful Father's death. You know how much I cherished our visits at Black"s Creek - he was a dear man, and you too to capture in pictures for me those visits. I will definitely join you on Earth Day!
Marilyn McLean

Martin Silverstone

March 12, 2008

Always generous and helpful to the Atlantic Salmon Journal and to me, I was lucky to get to know Henry. Sincere condolences to his son, family and friends.

Dawn Teal

March 10, 2008

It is with a heavy heart I offer the sympathy of our family. Henry came back into my life at 97 years of age. It was a pleasure and a delight to see him again. My Dad, Wilfred Crouse and Henry were dearest friends and many a fishing story I heard as a child. Billie and I were especially happy to be with Henry on his 100th birthday. I will treasure my Painting that was given to my Dad so many years ago and also the gift of my beautiful prints. Henry I loved you dearly and your memory will always remain with us. I am sure you will be fishing and painting in heaven.Sincerely, Billie&Dawn & Family

March 9, 2008

many blessings to the family with hugs and love from Ed, Paulette, Lauren and Stephan Gardner

Martha McDaniel

March 9, 2008

Henry "Grampy" to my children and grandchildren has been a source of much beauty in his wonderful paintings and the music he used to play. Seeing him just before his 100th birthday and again last summer were special opportunities for me to hear again his stories and share a bit of his life. He sure could cook fish! He certainly has been an inspiration to us all.
Martha Derby McDaniel

joseph onorato

March 8, 2008

this guest book has an option of leaving an 'audio' message...I declined....because henry wouldn't hear it (or.. could he?, only god knows)
talking to him often on the phone was a joy for me that I will miss
dearly. but remain greateful for the time he gave me....you lucky people you who came to know him for longer and better than I did... thank you mary and joe for introducing me to pop many years ago.

Adam LeFebvre

March 8, 2008

Henry was a great artist, great fisherman, a great cribbage player, my great-grandfather, and above all, a great friend. Grampy, I hope you know how loved you were in life, and how loved you still are in the after-life.

Glenn Caterer

March 8, 2008

Henry McDaniels' life and art have been an insiration to me and many others. As great a fisherman and artist as he was, he was even a greater human being. He will be missed.

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