Obituary

Stephen H. (Steve) Daniel
Born in 1950 to Edward Montgomery Daniel and Etta Mae Hourguettes Daniel, Steve spent his early years in Salisbury, North Carolina where his adventurous spirit and love of the outdoors took root as he climbed trees, hunted arrowheads in the nearby fields, or caught turtles and snakes for pets. When he was 11 years old, Steve, his sister Renee, and parents moved to his mother’s family home in Gretna, Louisiana.
In his adult life, the thrill of whitewater kayaking led him to explore rivers throughout the southeastern states, as well as Arkansas, New Mexico, and Colorado. Whether challenging the rapids on the Grand Canyon thrice, finding every whitewater possibility in frequently drought-plagued Texas and turning that information into Texas Whitewater (a book that went into a second edition), or attempting a first descent of the Rio Mezquital in Mexico, Steve felt most alive on the water.
His commitment to academic pursuits, especially the history of philosophy, was equally strong. He never tired of learning and of sharing that knowledge with others. For over 50 years, Steve taught and conducted post-doctoral research at several universities, including St. Louis University (St. Louis, Missouri), Spring Hill College (Mobile, Alabama), University of Virginia (Charlottesville, Virginia), and Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas). He published articles and books on John Toland, Jonathan Edwards, and more, also serving as editor for other scholarly works on philosophy. At Texas A&M, Steve organized an international conference commemorating the life and works of George Berkeley and was later elected to terms as vice president and president of the International Berkeley Society.

More information on Steve’s life and interests is available on his Wikipedia page (search Stephen H. Daniel, American philosopher). His Texas A&M faculty webpage, accessible at the time of this writing, includes his curriculum vita.

While attending St. Joseph Seminary College in St. Benedict, Louisiana, Steve met Breaux in 1969. After marrying in 1972, Steve and Breaux built a wonder-filled life together punctuated with his outdoor adventures, scholarly pursuits in university halls, worldwide travel, and quiet days of leisure at home. When asked how he would like to be remembered, he responded: “Good teacher, engaged kayaker, nice guy.” Steve departed this earth on June 24, 2025.

May his memory be as eternal as is my love for him.

A celebration of Steve’s remarkable life is planned for Saturday, July 26 at All Faiths Chapel on the Texas A&M University campus in College Station, Texas. Friends and family are invited to attend a mass at 1 pm; after a brief interlude, a memorial service will follow at approximately 2:10 pm. All guests are then invited to a reception in The Great Hall in the YMCA building across the street from the chapel. Campus maps are available online. The University Center Garage on Throckmorton near Rudder Tower is the closest parking garage. Donations in Steve’s memory can be made to the Brazos Valley Rehabilitation Center, 1318 Memorial Drive, Bryan, TX 77802 (or online at brazostherapy.org) or a non-profit of your choice.