Dan - a gentleman's gentleman. 

Always there in active support of our work at College Bound, always strategizing on helping others, and always doing so with such an affable air. It was always a pleasure to talk strategy with you.

I am so thankful we got to work so closely in the past twelve years. 

Godspeed, friend.

Scott Baier, College Bound

I feel lucky to have known Dan through our work in the non-profit sector. Dan had a good sense of humor, was caring, and saw the best in people. He wanted to make the world a better place. He was open to new ideas and innovations when it came to philanthropy and our region is better because of his work. My condolences to Dan's family. Dan will be missed. 

Please accept our heartfelt condolences for Dan's passing. My wife and I had the privilege of meeting Dan while I attended law school. Dan was always upbeat and one of the most genuine people we've ever met.
Mike and Joyce Patton

After our 3 children were nearly raised I got my Associates degree as a Para-Legal and worked at St. Louis Co. Probate Court for 3 years.  A recruiting phone call came from Dan to come and work under him at Centerre Trust Co.  in 1983.  After we were bought out 3 times and he was promoted he called me into his office and asked why I didn't have a Bachelor's Degree.  I told him I would have to take algebra and chemistry to do that and he said good grief he couldn't do that and the next thing I knew he promoted me to Trust Officer and the perks that came with it.  I am forever grateful for that and for his sense of humor.  So sorry he is gone.

My memories of Dan are little snapshots of smiles and laughter. Whether at Wilson or Hampton Park or John Burroughs, he always radiated kindness, humor, and care. I look back at those years in St. Louis with such joy, and an important part of that is the friendship and love the Watt family has always given me. I’m not sure what can be said in moments like this, but I’m thinking of you all, I’m here to help in any way I can, and I hope time will provide some solace.  

My heartfelt condolences,
Beni

My condolences to the family.  Over the years I enjoyed working with Dan on mutual clients.  He was always helpful and professional as well as a genuinely nice guy.  He will be missed.
Jon Igoe


Dear Ellen, 
So sad to read of Dan's passing in the morning paper. 
He was so open to meeting with me when I started HOME WORKS! and then so supportive as the head of Dana Brown. My brother Ralph and he were friends who enjoyed each other and had children in the same class. What a great guy. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew and loved him.
Karen Kalish

Daniel was such a great advisor and supporter of the St Louis Symphony Orchestra in his role with Dana Brown. Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time. 

warmly
Marie-Helene Bernard
President/CEO
St Louis Symphony Orchestra

Dearest Ellen,
I was so shocked and so very sorry to hear of Dan's passing.
I have such fond memories of him. He was always ready with a laugh or a smile.
Ellen, my heart aches for you and the boys.
Please know that you are in my prayers and that you have my deepest condolences. 
With Love,
Eileen Watt

Dear Watt Family,

The Board of Directors and Staff of Springboard to Learning extend  sincere condolences for your loss. Dan and the Dana Brown Charitable Trust have been wonderful partners, making possible the execution of our mission to develop children's abilities to think critically, create, collaborate and communicate, envisioning a future where all children are passionate, engaged learners who experience success. Dan was a true advocate for children and he will be greatly missed.

Dan had a tremendous capacity to understand and appreciate the contributions that not-for-profits make to the St. Louis region. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater St. Louis is grateful for the partnership he forged with us, and the friendship that resulted from our interactions. May the peace of God that passes all understanding be with the entire family.

Dear Ellen,
My heart broke for you when I read  about Dan. What a great husband and father.My deepest sympathy to you and your family. Fondly, Laurie Selkirk

We are so sorry for your loss!  Please share our condolences with all of your family members.  Dan has supported our work for over fifteen years at Lift For Life Academy.  As you are well aware, he was such an outstanding individual.  Dan's commitment to St. Louis in helping make OUR community a better place.  He left a wonderful legacy in providing support to many charities in helping bring about positive change.  We will miss him dearly.  Let his memory be a blessing!  Sincerely, Marshall Cohen, Executive Director, Lift For Life Academy

On behalf of all of us at Wyman Center, we send our deepest condolences to Dan's family, friends and all who loved him.  Dan was a kind, genuine, and generous leader, with a great heart for children and nurturing philanthropy.  The region lost a great one, and those close to Dan are in our hearts.  May his love and legacy be with you always.

Pamela Steele and I are Annie’s mom and dad.  Sadly, we only had the chance to meet Dan twice— once at dinner in Brooklyn where Annie and Nick introduced the parents to each other, and then at their wedding weekend last February. We were both taken by the friendliness and warmth of both Dan and Ellen. Dan’s caring nature and sense of humor were evident throughout the brief time we spent together. We were especially delighted with his welcome embrace of Annie into the Watt family, and my enduring memory of Dan is his wickedly funny testimonial to Nick and Annie at their wedding. Even though we come from different parts of the country and have very different backgrounds, we could immediately see that we shared the important basic human values that inform a good and meaningful life dedicated to family and community. Dan was a devoted husband and father, and he clearly imparted his many fine qualities to his sons. He can be very proud of this legacy.  

Dan was one of the nicest persons I ever knew.  He had a great impact on the St. Louis community.  He so much loved Ellen and his sons.  Prayers for the family and RIP Dan.

Deepest sympathy to Ellen, and to Dan's sons.  On behalf of Dan's Beloit College fraternity brothers, I can say that so many of our special memories spanning a period of some fifty-seven years involved our good times with Dan.  His engagement, his sense of humor, and his deep caring for others made him a very special guy.  He did well in his career, he was a devoted family man, and he made a difference in  many people's lives.  We will all miss him very much.

Dan was our neighbor on Waterman back in the 1980's. When I moved back to St. Louis in 2013, I was delighted to discover that he and Ellen were still in the Central West End, and my husband, Joe Carpenter, and I resumed our friendship with them. Dan's dry sense of humor, generous spirit and fine analytical mind made him a great dinner partner. Loved that like me, he was a Ready Reader. And grateful that he gave us a pepper plant to nurture through the pandemic.

Dan had a cadry of good friends from Beloit College, and I count myself as one. I am so sorry for your loss. Ellen,  please send my a short note at kriscubs@comcast.net if you are so inclined, so I can contact you back. You have my deepest sympathy.  During my talks with Dan in Portland, his love of you sons was right up front.  My fondest memory is the canoe trip in Quantico country ( Minnesota/Canada). Much love is in the air for Dan and all of you.- (Mr.) Kris Thorngren (615-477-4133)

As a fellow Beloit College graduate, I have so many fun, warm memories of Dan throughout the years.  As a student and a more current friend, Dan was always interested in others, kind and ready for fun.  And he loved Ellen dearly.  Along with many others, I will miss knowing he's in the world and miss being with him when his friends meet again.  Best to Ellen and Dan's family.  You are in my heart.  Meredith Kimbell

Dear Ellen, David, Nicholas, Andy and Maureen and Annie:
Our memories of Dan are full of laughter, adventures and usually great food.  Thank you for sharing him with us, we will never forget his  kindness and love for all of us and  his love for you, his family especially.  He was so proud of all of you boys and told us so and loved that you were finding significant others to share your lives with.  The loving gaze to Ellen, never waivered and brings a smile to our faces thinking of all the good times we have shared over the years. From when we first met living next door to each other on Waterman, to our lobster new years eve dinners, to asking us to be David's godparents, apple picking, gourmet dinner group and volleyball games,  infamous scavenger hunts when we met other friends in Dan and Ellen's circle and were thrilled to be included.  We love you all and our lives have been blessed by knowing and loving Dan Watt and his family.  Gone way too soon from this earthly place, but bringing fun to heaven.  Until we meet him again, he will always be in our hearts.  God bless you all, holding you close,   Tish and Ron

Sending my love and sympathy to the Watt family during this time. I'm so sad to hear of Dan's passing and am thinking a lot about him right now, particularly the time that I spent with him and the Watt family growing up. Your home was like a second home to me during middle school and high school (and college for that matter) and Dan was at the heart of that. He always welcomed me into your home and exuded warmth, humor, and care. He was such an energetic presence and his good-natured spirit had a lasting impact on me. Seeing Dan and Ellen at Nick and Annie's wedding this winter felt like a reunion with family and being together for that joyous celebration feels like even more of a blessing now. And as I've told Nick many times, his wedding toast had me in stitches (it was a vintage Dan Watt performance). I'm so grateful to have had Dan in my life through my friendship with Nick and will hold the many warm memories of him closely.     

OBITUARY

Daniel DeVore Watt

June 24, 1947 – June 17, 2022

Kriegshauser Mortuary-West Chapel

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