Aubrey Monroe Daniel

AUBREY MONROE DANIEL OBITUARYAubrey Monroe Daniel, a two-term Jacksonville city councilman and retired railroad executive who spent his life quietly devoted to the service of his country, his community and his church, passed away May 28, 2010 of congestive heart failure. He was 84. Daniel was born August 15, 1925 in Americus, Georgia, the second child of Clarence Drane Daniel and Mollie Forrest. When he was five-years-old, his family moved to Jacksonville. It was the beginning of a love affair with the Bold New City of the South that would last his entire life.In 1943, Daniel graduated from Andrew Jackson High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served a tour in the Pacific Theatre in Guam and was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. After he returned from the war, with the help of the G.I. Bill, he enrolled in the University of Florida. He married Christine Page and started a family. He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1950. After graduating, he accepted an entry-level clerical position with the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad. He joked he was offered the job based on the quality of his penmanship alone; he was the only applicant who had taken a stenography class. Daniel parlayed his knowledge of shorthand into a long and distinguished career. He spent the next four decades riding the rails and rising through the executive ranks at the Atlantic Coast Line and its successor companies. His job assignments took him from Rocky Mount to Wilmington, North Carolina to Jacksonville to Orlando and back to Jacksonville. In 1979, he served as president of Traffic Club International; he had previously served as President of the Traffic Club of Jacksonville. Daniel retired as Vice President of Industrial Development at CSX Transportation in 1988. While his professional accomplishments were extensive, Daniel’s life was defined by his generosity, compassion and selfless service to others. He was elected to two terms on Jacksonville City Council (1983-1991), where he chaired the Finance Committee. He served as an elder at Arlington Presbyterian Church, his home church for 47 years, as well as volunteered with Junior Achievement, the Boy Scouts and the United Way.For three decades, Daniel served on the boards of directors of more than a dozen charitable organizations in Jacksonville, dedicating much of his time and resources to groups working to provide a hand up to people suffering from poverty or addiction. He was instrumental in founding Arlington Community Services—a not-for-profit, interdenominational food bank—and served on its board since inception. He served on the boards of Gateway Community Services, an adult addiction center; the Salvation Army Adult Recovery Center, a residential facility for men; and the Boys Home Association. He previously served as chairman of the Jacksonville Alcohol and Drug Advisory Commission. For nearly a decade he was the treasurer of the Jacksonville 4-H Foundation, having held the titles of vice president and president in the 1990s. After his railroad colleague Richard D. Sanborn died suddenly in 1989, Daniel was instrumental in establishing an endowed scholarship in his name at Jacksonville University. Daniel was a longtime Rotarian, logging 24 years of perfect attendance at meetings. He was a member and President (1992-1993) of the Rotary Club of Arlington. He also held officer positions with the American Red Cross and the YMCA.After retiring, Daniel spent his free time pursuing his other passion: golf. He played in numerous charity tournaments, was a member of the Hidden Hills Country Club and served as the treasurer of the Northeast Florida Senior Golf Association. He was also a member of the St. John’s Dinner Club, serving as its president from 1995 to 1996.Above all else, Daniel was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Christine P. Daniel; his two sons, J. Richard Daniel (Tracey) of Orange Park and Thomas A. Daniel of Gainesville; his daughter, Linda D. Flanagan (Frank) of Keller, Texas; his four grandchildren, Sara D. Shaylor (Jay) of New York, New York, Craig H. Flanagan of Keller, Texas, Emily D. Daniel of Orange Park, and Kevin D. Flanagan of Keller, Texas; as well as one great-grandchild, Jack Shaylor. Daniel is also survived by his two brothers, Dan Daniel (Virginia) of Bethesda, Maryland and Forrest Daniel (Rhoda) of Winter Park; and his sister Jane Davies (John) of Orlando.A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 2, 2010 at Arlington Presbyterian Church on Sprinkle Drive with Rev. William F. Emery, III officiating. A reception will immediately follow in the fellowship hall. Graveside services will be held at Jacksonville National Cemetery promptly at 2:30 p.m. with full Military Honors rendered by the United States Marine Corp. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday,(TODAY) June 1, 2010 at Corey-Kerlin Funeral Home at 940 Cesery Blvd. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the following Jacksonville, Florida charities: the Salvation Army Adult Recovery Center, 10900 Beach Blvd, 32246; Arlington Presbyterian Church, 1351 Sprinkle Drive, 32211; Arlington Community Services, 1450 Rogero Road, 32211; The Boy’s Home Association, 2354 University Blvd N., 32211; the Rotary Club of Arlington, c/o Ed Hicks, 8357 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, FL 32277or the Jacksonville 4-H Foundation, 1010 N. McDuff Ave, 32254.