Edward William Daniels, 71, of Salisbury NH, died June 28, 2024 at Elliott Hospital in Manchester NH. Mr. Daniels was born July 28, 1952 in Nashua, NH. He was the son of the late Arthur C. and Florence B. Daniels of Nashua. Ed was a long time resident of Salisbury.

He graduated from Nashua High School in 1970 and from the University of New Hampshire in 1974, where he received a BA in Ancient History/Greek Classics. While at UNH, he threw hammerweights as a member of the men's track and field team. He also earned a master's degree in library science from the University of Rhode Island.

For more than three decades, he served as librarian to the students and faculty of the Shapiro Library at Southern New Hampshire University (FKA New Hampshire College) in Manchester. During his tenure, he became a full professor and was granted the status of Professor Emeritus prior to his retirement. During his final decade of service, he was responsible for managing the SNHU Online Student Library Services program, which provides information services to a global student body. After his retirement, he returned for a year to serve as interim dean of the library system.

Ed also served on the board of the Katie Bentley Lilac Project, a nonprofit organization in Salisbury, NH that provides opportunities for individuals, institutions, schools and communities to promote a love of lilacs in America.

His passion for hammer throwing continued into adulthood, where he competed in many local, regional, national and international USATF (USA Track & Field) Masters adult track and field competitions.

In addition to his competitive career, Ed has had a 52-year career in athletics as a coach, competition director, official, and NHIAA (New Hampshire Interscholastic Athlete Association) committee member, coaching student-athletes at Oyster River, Raymond, and Alvirne high schools.

In 2019, he concluded a 37-year tenure as an assistant track and field coach at Londonderry High School. He coached student-athletes in a variety of events including jumping, sprinting, hurdles, relay, decathlon, and weight throw. His student-athletes included many individual class champions and New Hampshire state champions.

When SNHU launched a women's track and field program in 2014, Ed served as a volunteer coach for the hammer and weight throw events. In 2016, he became the coach for the women's throwing team. He developed two NCAA All-Americans who excelled in the shot put and javelin, respectively. Ed gifted SNHU an endowment that will provide budgetary funds for many years to fund a coach position for the women's throwing team.

He loved working with all of his athletes as he helped them achieve and exceed their goals by focusing on proper technique, physical conditioning, mental preparation, training routines and goal setting.

Ed enjoyed playing golf. He participated in many charity and fundraising tournaments. On the golf course, he competed against his brothers and cousins, often enjoying the advantage of being able to play from the middle of the fairway while they benefited from his generosity in frequently allowing their two-foot putts. He enjoyed summer golf trips to Southern California, Michigan, Minnesota, Colorado and Nova Scotia/Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Ed leaves behind three brothers, a sister, many cousins ​​and two nieces: Charles (Jeannie) Daniels and their two daughters, Ann Marie Daniels, Robert Daniels and Paul Daniels.

The internment services will be private with a “Celebration of Life” so that Ed can take place at a later date.

Those wishing to make a charitable donation in Ed’s memory are asked to donate to:

Katie Bentley Lilac Project; PO Box 269; Salisbury, NH 03268

or to the SNHU women’s track and field team via the SNHU Athletic Giving Support donation website:

To sign an online guest book, please visit www.chadwickfuneralservice.com.