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WATERTOWN, MA-Daniel Robert Montgomery was born on July 28, 1972, in Santa Monica, CA. He was the beloved son of Bob and Lynn Montgomery and the dear older brother of Sara.

In 1974 his family moved to Charlotte, NC where he grew up, went to school, and played sports. Graduating from Charlotte Country Day School in 1991, he went on to Guilford College in Greensboro, NC. After graduation in 1995 with a degree in sport management, he created his adult life in Watertown and Cambridge, MA, and Brooklyn, NY. He worked in marketing at various companies.

His greatest joy was the birth of his daughter Lizzie in 2006. He and Rua Kelly, Lizzie’s mother, have loved and nurtured her to be the delightful, precious 14-year-old girl she is today.

He was especially close to the children who were Lizzie’s friends and their parents. Lizzie attends Amigos, a Spanish immersion school in Cambridge, MA, where Daniel served as President of the Friends of Amigos and a room parent for Lizzie’s class for several years. Daniel and Lizzie loved hosting science parties for her schoolmates.

Daniel’s other loves were playing baseball, as a Little League shortstop, football as a wide receiver in high school and college, and high school basketball. He also enjoyed going to Litchfield Beach, SC with his family and friends, fishing anywhere, and reading. He was a voracious reader as a child, checking out at least 10 books every library visit. John Steinbeck was his favorite author.

Daniel was definitely a people-person. He struck up a conversation with everyone he encountered. He had a great smile which he shared easily. He loved all animals, and during the pandemic, he and Lizzie adopted two kittens named Fezzik and Inigo.

Fortunately, Daniel attended the wedding of his cousin Clair near Wilmington, NC in early March. Because of the pandemic, this was the first time his parents and extended family had seen him in 18 months.

Tragically Daniel died very suddenly on April 20. His family and friends celebrated his life with a private service on April 28 at Mt. Auburn Cemetery’s Bigelow Chapel in Cambridge, MA. Another service will be held on May 22 at 2 PM at Tryon United Methodist Church in Tryon, NC.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Tryon United Methodist Church, 195 New Market Rd., Tryon, NC would be appreciated.

Submitted by Lynn and Bob Montgomery

Tryon, NC