William M. Daly

10/11/2005

William M. Daly, 84, of Natick died at home Tuesday after a long illness. Born in Great Barrington on Dec. 27, 1920, son of Patrick and Mary McDermott, he grew up in West Stockbridge and attended Williams High School through his junior year. He graduated from Boston College High School, and in 1942 from Boston College. In 1955, he earned a doctorate in history from Brown University. Mr. Daly taught history at Boston College from 1947 until he retired in 1986. His monographs on aspects of the intellectual life of late classical and Merovingian Gaul were published in "Medieval Studies," "Traditio," "Speculum" and other journals. He was active in the formation of Natick's Fair Housing Committee, which worked in the early 1960s toward the goal of ensuring that housing opportunities were fully open to African-Americans. He enjoyed playing piano and choral singing in his younger years. He and his wife, Catherine R. Daly, were married 58 years. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Michael Daly of Manlius, N.Y., and William F. Daly of Leicester; one daughter, Patricia Daly in Norfolk, Conn.; six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Calling hours will be Thursday, Oct. 13, from 3 to 7 p.m., at EVERETT FUNERAL HOME, 4 Park St., Natick. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, Oct. 14, at 10 a.m., at St. Patrick's Church in Natick. A burial service will take place on Saturday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m., at St. Patrick's Cemetery in West Stockbridge. Donations in Bill's memory may be made to the Natick Visiting Nurse Association, 209 West Central St., Natick, MA 01760, or to MetroWest HomeCare & Hospice, 85 Lincoln St., Framingham, MA 01702.

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