William G. Danforth's Obituary
William George Danforth passed away peacefully on August 5 at the age of 74 in Rehoboth Beach, DE. He was the son of the late George J. and Fernanda M. Danforth.
He is survived by his sister, Elena Danforth Ake, nieces, Dr. Jennifer Romanow and Christina Harrison, and his beloved great nieces and nephew. William grew up in Pittsburgh, PA where he attended Shadyside Academy. He continued his studies at Case Western Reserve University and later graduated with a BA in philosophy from Windham College in Vermont. He returned home to Pittsburgh where he joined his father and uncle in the family business before moving to Rehoboth Beach to care for his aging parents.
William enjoyed his retirement by reading his collection of books by Greek and Roman philosophers, often engaging his family in lively discussions about their continued relevance, and sparking curiosity among even the youngest listeners. He was a skilled chess and backgammon player and enjoyed collecting model trains. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a caring heart. William had a knack for fixing almost anything and was never too busy to lend a hand. He enjoyed making people smile with a good joke, and sometimes, even better, with a bad one. He brightened everyone’s day and will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.
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