Author: Duane Fickeisen

The Rev. Dennis Jay Daniel died on April 23, 2022, at the age of 80.

Dennis is survived by his wife of 31 years, the Rev. Dr. Sydney Wilde; his son, Andrew Daniel; his daughter-in-law, Alice Daniel; and his granddaughters, Corrina Stadler, Brianna Stadler, and Abigail Daniel. He also leaves behind his son-in-law, Randy Stadler; and ex-wife, Phyllis Nygaard Daniel. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Sabrina Daniel Stadler; his brother, Steven Daniel; and his first wife, the mother of his children, Annabelle Lee.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Pacific Time on Saturday, July 2, 2022, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Chico, 1289 Filbert Avenue, Chico, CA 95926. The service will also be live-streamed via Zoom (please see the link on the church’s website).

Donations can be made to the Dennis Daniel Memorial Fund c/o UUFC, 1289 Filbert Avenue, Chico, CA 95926. UURMaPA will contribute $50 to the UUMA Endowment Fund in honor of our colleague’s ministry. 

Notes of condolences can be sent to Sydney Wilde, 2682 Fairfield Common, Chico, CA 95928.

Dennis received his B.A. and M.A. from UCLA and received his M.Div. from Claremont School of Theology. He was ordained in 1985 and served a three-point ministry in northern Maine and New Brunswick — The First Unitarian Church of Houlton, Maine; The First Universalist Church in Oakfield, Maine; and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Frederickton, New Brunswick, Canada.

Dennis married the Rev. Sydney Wilde in 1990.  For the first two years of their marriage, they served separate churches in northern Maine. In 1992, they were called as Co-Ministers to the Central Unitarian Church of Bergen County in Paramus, NJ. Subsequently they served together  as Co-Ministers to The First Unitarian Church of Chicago (interim), The Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, CA (interim); the Auburn Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Auburn, CA; The Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston, VA; and The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Chico, CA where, after their retirement in 2015, they were named Ministers Emeriti.

Dennis served on the UUMA Executive Committee and spent most of his lifetime supporting affordable housing and shelter for the homeless, women’s health, anti-racism, LGBTQ rights, shelter for abused women, and education for the disadvantaged. Since 2009, he was an active member of  Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) in Chico, CA.  As an OLLI Peer Leader, he taught classes on Walden and Thoreau, Rabbinical commentaries on the Hebrew Bible, and Poetry for Insight.

A more complete obituary will be forthcoming after biographical research has been completed.

Robert E. “Bob” Doughty, husband of the Rev. Nancy Doughty, died April 10, 2022 following a stroke. He was born May 10, 1930, in Columbus, MS and was shy of being 92 by one month when his last breath came.

Scouting was a large part of Bob’s teen years introducing him to an appreciation of nature. He fulfilled all the steps and achieved the Eagle Scout Badge in 1947. Bob began his career as an electrician while in his late teens, married Jean Weeks in 1950 and they had four daughters. He arrived in Detroit as a journeyman electrician in 1954. He resumed electrical engineering studies and received his BS with honors in electrical engineering in 1966 from Wayne State University. He worked at Chrysler for over 30 years retiring as an engineering manager in 1992.

Bob and Nancy were married in December 1966 after his first wife died. In 1970 another daughter arrived in the family. Together they spent many summers sailing in their 25 foot O’Day on the Great Lakes with family and friends and regularly camped with a group of UU’s on holiday weekends. Bob was an active member of First UU Church, Detroit, teaching in the religious education program and in social action programs. Later he and Nancy joined Northwest UU Church in Southfield, MI where Bob took many leadership roles including his being Moderator of the Church. Once Nancy became minister at Emerson UU Church in 1989, Bob of necessity retreated to be the minister’s partner.

Bob was the consummate do-it-yourselfer, always involved in a project either at home or with many organizations both before and after retirement. After moving to Traverse City, MI in 1998, Bob turned his building interests to building models of ships, lighthouses and antique airplanes, several of which he created after extensive research.

Bob had a strong commitment to family and loved spending time, particularly with grandsons, Luke and Zak. Bob and Nancy celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary in 2021. He and Nancy were each other’s best friends, supporters and loved each other deeply. Bob is survived by Nancy; daughters, Angela Doughty, Suzanne Doughty, Ayliah Doughty, and Anne (Brian) Kelly; and four grandchildren. 

A celebration of life will take place May 14, 2022, 2:00 pm (EST) at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Grand Traverse (MI) and will be streamed live on YouTube.

Memorial contributions may be made to the UU Congregation of Grand Traverse Endowment Fund, 6726 Center Rd., Traverse City, 49686 or the Inland Seas Education Association, Box 218, Suttons Bay, MI 49682. UURMaPA will contribute $50 to one of these organizations.

Messages of condolence can be sent to Nancy Doughty, 12055 S. Woodwinds Cir., #13, Traverse City, MI 49684.