WORCESTER-Walter N. Daby, 85, of 26 Henshaw Street, a local artist, died Friday, May 23rd in U-Mass Memorial Healthcare-University Campus after a long illness. He leaves his wife of 52 years, Beatrice C. (Clark) Daby, a daughter, Norma Kelleher of New Orleans, LA and many nieces and nephews. A brother, John Daby and 2 sisters, Helen Chapman and Ruth Daby predeceased him.
He was born Worcester, the son of John F. and Ellen J. (Gorey) Daby. He graduated from North High School, Vesper George School of Art, School of the Worcester Art Museum, Clark University with a bachelor’s degree and Assumption College with a master’s degree. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Mr. Daby taught art in Burncoat Senior High School for 27 years, retiring in 1983. He also taught at his own studio, the Worcester Art Museum and Assumption College. He was a friend of Wesley United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association, National Educational Association, past president of the Worcester County Retired Teachers Association, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Worcester Art Museum, the Artist’s Equity, Concord Art Association, Rhode Island Watercolor Society, The Boston Visual Artists’ Union, Grove Street Gallery and the Springfield Art League.
He regularly exhibited in juried shows, such as for The Newport Rhode Island Museum, the Copley Society of Boston, and Whittier College, California. He has presented One-Man-Shows at Assumption College, Babson College, Clark University, Linden Street Gallery, Trumbull Gallery, Rhode Island Watercolor Society, Grove Street Gallery, and the foothills Theatre. He was awarded the Purchase Prize at the Springfield Museum of Fine Art, First in Watercolor from the Fitchburg Art Museum, Prize Award from the Warwick Art Museum, RI, and the Juror’s Award at the Copley Society in Boston.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Thursday, May 29th in Wesley United Methodist Church, 114 Main Street. There are no calling hours. O’Connor Brothers Funeral Home, 592 Park Avenue, is handling the arrangements.