Kathleen Daniel

Born to Kathleen Philamena Fitzsimmons and John Thomas Daniel in 1935, she, along with her younger brother, John “Jack” Daniel, were raised at 223 Second Street in Beach Haven, NJ, a place she loved and returned to throughout her life. A proud graduate of Barnegat High, she graduated from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia in 1956 where she served as senior class president before graduating and working at a publishing house in Philadelphia. She moved to an apartment on East 85th Street in New York in 1961, where she lived the for rest of her life.

She attended the prestigious Radcliffe Publishing Course before beginning work as an assistant editor in the textbook division of publisher Harcourt Brace, which later became Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, at the time one of the world’s largest trade and textbook publishers. She rose through the ranks to head of the English Department, which produced all language and literature books when Harcourt led the nation in school sales. Hers was the last pencil on book galleys for many years.

She authored three literature textbooks with HBJ, Adventures in Appreciation and Adventures for Readers (both with Fannie Safier) and Introduction to Literature: The Start of Something Great, which were taught in classrooms across the country. All taught an expanded look at literature by including modern authors as well as viewing religious texts as forms of literature per the work of Harold Bloom and others.

When HBJ announced they were moving their New York headquarters to San Diego and Orlando in 1982, Kathleen’s response was “If God wanted to give the United States an enema, he’d stick it in Orlando,”. Unsurprisingly, she was one of the few staffers to remain behind in New York. She retired from Harcourt in 2002.

Kathleen was the quintessential New York City aunt, to not only her nephews and niece but to her enormous circle of friends. She loved to host guests whether taking 13-year-olds to inappropriate movies, or others to some of Broadway’s biggest hits, or simply providing a bed and dinner at Arturos. She showed the same hospitality down the shore, welcoming many regardless of the season.

She doted on and loved her nephews Mac Daniel and Patrick E. Daniel; her niece Kate Daniel; her Grands Spencer, Blake, Harper and Brady and her sister-in-law, Peggy Shanks Daniel. She was pre-deceased by her parents, her brother Jack, many of the Fitzsimmons clan in Mount. Charles, Ireland, in particular, Joe and Maureen Talbot.

Kathleen adored her given family but also created a giant chosen family whose members are too numerous to name but each one was treasured and important. Her many address books are a testimony to her giant, loyal group of friends who she adored and adored her.

Special thanks to Rita Mondelo and the staff at 510 whose loving care let her live her life independently as long as she did.

We will all miss her terribly.

Donations in her name can be made to the Beach Haven Library.