Joseph "Tim" Timothy Daly's Obituary
Joseph Timothy “Tim” Daly was born in Washington D.C., son of Eugene A. and Mary E. Daly. The middle of three children, he grew up in the Annapolis, Maryland area. At an early age, he established an interest in horses and riding - an avocation that continued throughout his life, even following debilitating injuries he received from a fox hunting training accident.
Tim graduated from Annapolis High School, where he was best known for his outgoing personality and dedication on the football field and wrestling mat. He received his undergraduate degree in Business from the University of Maryland and a Masters Degree in Education from Catholic University. He further completed Doctoral course work in Education at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Tim enlisted and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps in the 1960s. Initially employed in the aerospace industry, while in his mid 30s, he transitioned his career path to the field of public education. He was employed by Fairfax County Public Schools for the next 17 years, and it was here that he truly embraced his calling. Tim’s roles in the school system included classroom teacher, athletic coach, academic mentor, extracurricular sponsor and various administrative roles.
During his early educator years at W.T. Woodson High School in the 1970s, he is credited with introducing lacrosse to northern Virginia public schools. He lobbied for, and subsequently coached, the first Woodson High School teams as a “club sport,” while awaiting its ultimate recognition as a secondary school sport by the Virginia High School League. He also established the first school-based automotive sales curriculum, where students performed mechanical and auto body work to prepare vehicles for sale to the public by the school’s business department students. This became a state-licensed automotive dealership, and this legacy can be seen in other school jurisdictions to this day.
Tim ultimately rose to become the Director of Vocational Education - a role that allowed him to bring a number of innovations to vocation education in Fairfax County, including the supervised student construction of many new homes in the county, a flagship program at that time. For many years, he also taught popular classes at Northern Virginia Community College, including outdoor survival and paranormal studies.
Tim served for many years as a wrestling referee for the Northern Virginia area high schools. A devoted family man, his happiest times were spent in the company of his wife and three children on their Leesburg farm where they kept horses and raised a rotating menagerie of animals. Tales of his weekend farm and family life were legendary: barbed-wire fencing projects gone awry, barn building involving no small amount of profanity and thrown hammers, secret fishing holes that were very secret but rather devoid of fish, building and launching a floating barge in the WPGC Potomac River Ramblin' Raft Race, and last but not least, the nightly great chicken round-ups. The Dalys were parishioners of both St. John’s (Leesburg) and St. Joseph’s (Herndon) Catholic Church.
In addition to the terrific pride, time and attention he invested in supporting his own children’s myriad activities and pursuits, his passion to influence and mentor young people was extraordinary and created several life-long relationships with former students as well as admiration from young people in the community that were touched by his advice and support.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Nancy, their three children, Shawn Daly, Shannon Daly and Heather Enloe (Michael), seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be private.
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