Daniel Emrys O'Leary, 55, passed away on October 8, after nearly a year's struggle with a rare form of cancer. Born on October 16, 1967 in Vancouver, Canada, the mountains and ocean shores formed Daniel's childhood and embedded a great love of the outdoors. In his twenties, he moved to Seattle, where he attended North Seattle Community College, and later graduated from The Evergreen State College in Olympia with a degree in anthropology. He applied his studies in El Mozote, El Salvador to record testimonials of survivors of the civil war. This experience shaped Daniel's life course, as he went on to pursue a Master's degree in Peace and Conflict Resolution at American University.  Throughout his graduate education, Daniel worked with communities dedicated to nonviolence in South Korea, Palestine, Northern Ireland, and South Africa. In 2010, he completed a doctoral degree in Social Science from Syracuse University, where he also studied documentary filmmaking at the Newhouse School.

For the past 17 years, Daniel taught in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Old Dominion University.  He enjoyed advising and mentoring, with a particular focus on first generation students.  A great advocate for international immersion, he supported a number of students in study abroad courses and internship opportunities. Daniel was truly a lifelong learner and a voracious reader. He felt a profound dedication to independent news media and the recording of stories from underrepresented groups.  The visual arts also formed a cornerstone of his passion. He supported the self-taught arts movement and collected pieces throughout his global travels.  Among his signature endeavors, great cooking, party hosting, handy home renovation, and trivial pursuit competitions brought frequent joy and connection to his life.  He was unmatched in his capacity to organize, pack, and plan travels—skills he shared generously with so many.

Over the past three decades, Daniel has been an avid outdoor enthusiast. He completed the arduous 95-mile Wonderland Trail hike around Mount Rainier seven times, served as a nature guide in both the Oregon Coast and Ocracoke Island, biked 108 kilometers around the Cape of Good Hope in Cape Town, and camped across the United States. He was a great believer in nature's capacity to provide the optimal arena for happiness, appreciation, and contemplation.

Daniel is survived by his partner, Jamie Parsons, an aunt, Leslie Sharp, and three cousins, Tyler Gibbenhuck, Ashley Ross, and Jarad Gibbenhuck. He cherished his relationship with his beloved Goddaughter, Abby Nesper, who mirrors his love of nature, and a kindred travel and hiking mate, Nick Nesper. Daniel was a loyal, kind, and generous friend to many across coastlines and countries. His life course is a model of enduring optimism, gratitude, and hope—qualities he wished to share with those he touched.

In lieu of flowers, Daniel requested that any memorial gifts be devoted to scholarships in support of his core commitments to serving first generation students, strengthening social justice, and promoting visual arts. Suggested scholarships at his home ODU institution to include: Karen A. Polonko Memorial Scholarship Endowment for Advocates of Children's Rights, Scholarships in Support of Social Justice ,  or You are Welcome Here Scholarship for International Studies .  For help with contributions, please call the Office of Development at ODU, 757-683-3030.

Arrangements are by Berceuse Funeral and Cremation Traditions in Hampton, 757-825-8070.