President Lambert has announced the death of President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley. He passed away Nov. 29 at the age of 92.
Dear members of the Elon community,
I write today with news I hoped I would never have to share with you. President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley passed away today. He died peacefully at The Village at Brookwood in Burlington, N.C. He was 92.
I struggle to find words that are adequate to describe the impact of Dr. Danieley’s life on Elon and the tens of thousands of students, faculty, staff and friends who loved him. From his humble beginnings on a farm in Alamance County, he emerged as a brilliant man with a singular focus on education, expressed through a lifetime of work at his beloved alma mater. It is no exaggeration to say that Earl Danieley was a unique figure in American higher education.
Over the past 70 years, Dr. Danieley served us as a highly principled leader, institutional builder, wise mentor, and ever-energetic champion for all that Elon stands for. But above those roles, he was always a teacher. He loved his discipline of chemistry and was passionate about the success of his students. Generations of Elon alumni who were fortunate enough to take a class from Dr. Danieley will never forget the experience of having a teacher who was a true force of nature. And yes, we know that Dr. Danieley never forgot the names and life stories of the students who took his classes, along with the thousands of others who came to know him outside the classroom. All educators at Elon will forever be measured against the standards set by this remarkable individual.
Over the next week, our community will celebrate the remarkable life of Dr. Danieley. Watch for announcements about an all-campus memorial service. And there will be several opportunities for all of us to share Dr. D stories, pay tribute to him and comfort each other as we try to understand what Elon will be like without this iconic figure in our midst. It is hard to imagine Elon without him, but he has spent a lifetime setting an example of how we should move ever forward to a positive future.
I invite you to read details of Dr. Danieley’s life at www.elon.edu/E-Net/Article/140718. Then please take a moment to consider how one person can touch the lives of so many and be a beacon of hope in our world. There will never be another Earl Danieley, but he has taught us that every member of the Elon community has the capability and responsibility to carry forward his good work.
Long Live Elon!
Leo M. Lambert
President