In Memoriam: Daniel John Mannix

Daniel John Mannix, 54, of Granby, CT, died Jan. 21, 2012 of a heart attack in his home. Daniel was born Nov. 6, 1957 to John and Barbara Mannix of Springfield, MA. 

Daniel attended Our Lady of Hope School in Springfield prior to the family moving to West Suffield, CT, where Daniel graduated from Suffield High School and went on to attended Eastern Connecticut State University. Dan married Donna Ward Oct. 6, 1984 and they lived in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and Dunwoody, GA before returning to Granby in 1987. Dan and Donna had two children, Courtney and Ryan. 

Courtney is a senior at Bryant University in Rhode Island and Ryan is a sophomore at the University of Connecticut on a scholarship from the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

Daniel is predeceased by his wife Donna who died on July 20, 2009. In addition to his children Courtney and Ryan, he is survived by his parents, John and Barbara Mannix of Marco Island, FL, his sister Karen Tilson her husband Tom Tilson and daughter Morgan of South Hamilton, MA, his brother Michael Mannix and his daughters Molly, Sarah and Allison of Newington, CT, his sister Marlene Mannix of West Granby, CT, and his brother John (Jack) Mannix of Derry, NH. 

While at Our Lady of Hope, Daniel was an alter boy, a boy scout, and played on the school baseball team. While at Suffield High School, he played left wing on the hockey team and set a school and state record in track and field for the 2-mile. 

Daniel enjoyed hockey and continued to play after graduating from high school.  He was employed by The Travelers in Hartford, CT as a member of their IT group. He loved the outdoors and enjoyed hunting, fishing and hiking. He recently cultivated a new passion for organic gardening and loved to share his garden with family and friends. 

As a dedicated dad, he was famous for his weekend pancake breakfasts, building snow forts, creating huge piles of leaves to jump in and building big bonfires to warm the end of a long day. 

A memorial service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at the South Congregational Church of Granby, 242 Salmon Brook St., Granby, CT, and will be officiated by The Rev. Dennis P. Moon. There will be a reception immediately following the service in the church hall. 

Donations can be made in memory of Daniel to the Connecticut Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure by going to www.komenct.org and searching for the Daniel Mannix Memorial Fund.