Augustus “Gus” C. McDaniel, 84, of Waite Hill, Ohio and Christmas Cove, died suddenly on Nov. 8 in Cleveland, Ohio.
He was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 19, 1922, the son of Augustus C. McDaniel and Florence Osborn McDaniel.
He graduated from the University School in Shaker Hts., Ohio, and then attended Cornell University in 1942 before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He achieved the rank of Second Lieutenant and served three years as a fighter pilot flight officer.
He married Helena Prescott in 1948 after which he spent every summer with her in Christmas Cove.
He was employed for 41 years by Hill Acme of Cleveland, Ohio and Gorham, a manufacturer of machine tools and high-pressure valves for scuba and recreation. He retired from Hill Acme in 1986 as president and CEO. He was a director and officer of the National Machine Tool Builders Association and was issued a U.S. patent for hydraulic circuitry for metal forming.
He was a trailblazer in foreign trade and during the 1970’s he successfully forged trading relationships for his company in the Soviet Union, Iran, Japan and Brazil.
He was a life trustee of Hathaway Brown School and a vestryman for St. Huberts Episcopal Church. He also served as president of the Christmas Cove Improvement Association.
He was an avid boatman, both power and sail, and spent much of his summers cruising the coast of Maine on “Gander” or participating in fleet sailing activities on his Christmas Cove 21, the “Goose”.
In the fall he enjoyed duck and upland game hunting. He was a master woodworker and spent much of the winter crafting furniture for his home and family.
He is survived by his wife, Nina; daughters, Marny Kaufman of Havre de Grace, Md., Merry McCreary of Hunting Valley, Ohio, and Nina Bolwell of Novelty, Ohio; and he was the loving grandfather of six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family prefers that those who wish may make contributions in his name to Hathaway Brown School, 19600 N. Park Blvd., Shaker Heights, OH 44122.
Funeral service was held Nov. 13 at St. Hubert’s Episcopal Church in Kirtland Hills, Ohio. Interment was at Waite Hill Cemetery, Ohio.
Additional information can be found online at www.legacy.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Brown-Forward, Inc., Shaker Hts., Ohio.
