John R. Daily

John R. Daily, long time Akron area resident, passed away April 11, 2023.

He was born to Earl and Mabelle (Hitzemann) Daily in Cleveland, Ohio on December 3, 1927. His family then moved to Detroit. The Great Depression followed, and, to survive, the family moved to Colorado Springs, CO, to Richmond, CA, back to Colorado Springs, on to Columbus (where John spent his younger school years through part of grade 3), and finally back to Detroit, where John spent the rest of grade 3 through 12. Summers were often spent working on his Aunt Edna (Hitzemann) and Uncle Wesley Hedges’ farm near Tonganoxie, KS.

Upon graduating from high school in January 1946, on the heels of WW II, John enlisted in the Army, where he served 1-1/2 years and was discharged in 1947 as a PFC. John then attended Michigan State College (now Michigan State University), studying Park Management and Municipal Forestry, graduating in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science in Forestry. John enrolled in ROTC for his junior and senior years. Upon graduating in 1951, John received his Army officer commission as a 2d Lt, and served for another 2 years during the Korean War before being discharged as a 1st Lt in 1953.

While at Michigan State, John married his love, Ardell, in 1950, with whom he would spend nearly 67 years. Their son, Mark, was born in the Fort Lee Army Hospital in 1952. Their daughter, Diane, followed in Skokie, Illinois in 1960. Upon his discharge from the Korean War, John returned to Michigan State, where he received his Master of Science degree in Land and Water Conservation in 1954.

John first began with the City and County of Denver Park Department in 1954. In 1955, they relocated to Burlingame, CA, where John was a structural steel detailing draftsman in his father’s company. Then, in 1956, John landed a job with the Skokie Park District in Illinois, where he oversaw planning, construction and maintenance for 8 years. In 1965, Summit Metro Parks hired John as its second long-time director-secretary. He served until his retirement in 1995.

During John’s 30-year tenure, the park system grew to 6,600 acres. That included the additions of Silver Creek, O’Neil Woods, Hampton Hills, the Bike & Hike Trail, the Kniss Conservation Area, Munroe Falls Metro Park, and Cascade Valley. Daily also helped acquire lands in the Cuyahoga Valley in the 1960s that later became part of Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Congressman John Seiberling was instrumental in this effort, and John Daily was among the first to ride the Bike & Hike Trail when it opened.

The three initial Commissioners with whom John worked were all Rotarians [Forest Myers (real estate appraiser), Dr. Waldo Seman (Goodrich chemist), Joe Thomas (Firestone officer)], and supported John’s Rotary membership. John was inducted into the Akron Rotary Club in 1966 – 57 years ago. In 2018, John was recognized for 52 years of perfect attendance, an extraordinary expression of John’s dedication to Rotary.

John swam competitively in high school (co-captain of the swim team) and in the Army, but his real “career” didn’t start until age 49, when in 1976, Ardell purchased a membership at the Akron Jewish Community Center “so they could get more exercise.” This began a long and successful swimming career that included top ten finishes in every stroke, in meets all over Ohio and North America, including National and World Masters Swimming competitions; all as a member of the O*H*I*O Masters Swim Club. In 2017, at age 90, John was recognized by the US Masters Swimming Club as an All American for achieving the fastest competition times in the 100 meter freestyle, 100 meter backstroke and 200 meter backstroke. John also attended the First Church of Christ Scientist in Medina near his home.

John is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ardell; and his sister, Dorothy. He is survived by his son, Mark Daily of Gunnison, CO; daughter, Diane Hammond of St. Louis, MO; three grandsons; two granddaughters; seven great-grandsons; and one great-granddaughter.  

Special thanks to Rotarian George Rooney (akronrotary.org Jan 08, 2019) and the Summit Metro Parks website (http://www.summitmetroparks.org/) for helping share John’s life story.

Memorial Service 1 P.M. SATURDAY May 6th at the Billow FAIRLAWN Chapel, 85 N. Miller Road. Visitation one hour prior to the service. Inurnment at Rose Hill Burial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in John’s name may be made to Friends of Summit Metro Parks, Akron Rotary Foundation, Akron Rotary Camp, 4460 Rex Lake Dr., Akron, OH. 44319, or First Church of Christ Scientist, 5147 River Styx Rd, Medina, Ohio 44256. 

Services in care of The Billow Funeral Homes & Crematory, 85 N Miller Road Akron, OH 44333.

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