In Memoriam
Daniel P. Northway
March 2, 2024
Dan Northway died on August 3, 2023. We learned of his death on March 2, 2024.
Dan entered Yale with our Class but switched to the Class of 1965 when he took a year off after sophomore year. He did not graduate from Yale, but instead worked in medical research in New York City and then went to the University of MIami, where he got his B.A. and B.S. in English and Biology in 1970 and his M.D. in 1974. In September 2015 he opted to re-affiliate with his original Yale Class, the Class of 1964.
Below are the following remembrances of his full and active life.
Obituary
Dr. Daniel Page Northway passed away with family by his side August 3rd, 2023, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka, KS, after battling complications from cardiac arrest July 6th.
Born June 17th, 1942, in Oneida, NY, he grew up in Pompano Beach, FL, where he developed into a nationally recognized swimmer. He also took an active role in the Episcopal church his family helped establish, St. Martin’s-in-the-Fields. At age eight, he wrote to his bishop for advice on becoming a priest; the bishop wrote back Dan should first finish the third grade.
He entered Yale University as a top distance swimmer majoring in pre-theological studies, but quickly changed to pre-med. After doing lab research for Nobel Laureate Peyton Rous and Mount Sinai Hospital and taking more coursework at several New York City colleges, he returned to Florida to work at the medical school at the University of Miami. There he completed his degrees: a B.A. and B.S. in English and Biology (1970), and an M.D. (1974).
Following graduation, he moved to Topeka, KS, to begin building his career as a board-certified psychiatrist. He completed a residency in General Psychiatry and a fellowship in Child Psychiatry at the Menninger Foundation, in addition to receiving training at the Topeka Institute of Psychoanalysis. He also worked at the emergency rooms of St. Francis Hospital and Memorial Hospital, at the Kansas State Reception and Diagnostic Center, and at the drug-and-alcohol rehabilitation unit at Stormont Vail Hospital. He became the Director of Children and Adolescent Services at Topeka State Hospital in 1980 and finally settled into private practice in 1982. He was devoted to his patients, continuing an active practice until his death, and maintained longstanding relationships with his valued colleagues.
His wife, two daughters, and grandchildren were his greatest sources of happiness. He met his wife, Kathryn, at the University of Miami. They spent 53 years thriving in a marriage characterized by affection and growth and laughing their way through routine activities, such as cooking and errands. They loved exploring the great outdoors, traveling to all 50 states, and thereby fulfilling in 1995 a lifelong dream of seeing Alaska.
He was committed to a life of faith. In 1988, he became a deacon, and, a year later, an ordained Episcopal priest. Dan joyfully offered, in his words, “a thousand Sundays” serving the churches of St. Mark’s and St. Paul’s in Marshall County, KS, retiring in 2008 as a non-stipendiary pastor after 33 years of ministry. Most recently, he was an active member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence, KS.
Dan was an avid reader on a wide range of topics, from social-justice issues, conscientious objectors, and medical ethics to Chaucer and ancient Chinese poetry. To fuel his curiosity, he enjoyed classes throughout life in advanced mathematics, Greek, and theology. From an early age, he was fascinated by planes and carried in his wallet — just in case need arose — his pilot’s license, which certified him for private and commercial single- and multi-engine planes, seaplanes, gliders, airline transport pilot, instrument rating, and instruction.
He developed lasting and meaningful friendships with people from different walks of life. His conversations were always filled with his quick and playful sense of humor, his spontaneous recitations of poems, popular movie quotations, foreign words, endless optimism, and deep, warm, human understanding.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn Northway, daughters Dr. Kara Northway (Dr. Bret Flanders) of Manhattan, KS, and Dr. Megan Northway, and grandchildren Emmeline, Oliver, and Harrison, all of Boulder, CO; his sisters Jayne “Jan” Louttit of Tallahassee, FL, and Dr. Cassandra Hancock (Dr. Tom Hancock), of Boca Raton, FL; his aunt Claire Younkin, of Houston, TX; and many nephews, nieces, and cousins. Dan was preceded in death by his parents, David and Jean Northway, and brother, Patrick Northway.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 10th, 5:00-7:00pm, at Penwell Gabel, 1321 SW 10th Ave., Topeka. A Celebration of Life service will be held Friday, August 11th, at 10:00am, at Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave., followed by internment at Mount Calvary in Topeka.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Doctors without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres , the Topeka Rescue Mission, the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas in memory of Father Dan Northway, or the charity of your choice.
Memorial Video
The following video was posted by the Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home.
50th Reunion Essay
by Dan Northway
After Yale I worked in medical research labs in New York City, then at the University of Miami, where I entered medical school in 1970. Psychiatric training followed at the Menninger Foundation in Topeka, where Kathryn and I still live. We met at the university — in genetics lab! — and married when she was a graduate student in biology.
We have two daughters, now settled in their lives and marriages. Kara teaches Shakespeare at Kansas State University where she is an associate professor. Megan uses her Ph.D. in chemistry as a mother and homemaker. She recently moved to Connecticut, where her third child was born.
I entered Yale as a pre-theology student and left pre-med (you gotta love the 60s!). Ordination as a priest came in 1988, in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. I was the vicar of two small churches near the Nebraska border for twenty years. Having a pilot’s license and a series of small planes made the travel easier and, indeed, possible with my medical practice. Thank you Norwood R. Hanson!
Life is somewhat quieter now. I have a small psychiatric practice, adult and child. On Sundays I mostly sit in the pew and let the youngsters do the services. Kathryn has retired, and we have more time together now. We travel when possible. It’s all good.
The poet says, “I am a part of all that I have met...” This feels ever more true as the years go by. I am profoundly grateful for my time at Yale: for Brand Blanshard, Harold Bloom, Hans Frei, Alvin Novick, Benjamin Bouck, Phil Moriarity, Richard Clark Lewis, and William Sloan Coffin, among others. But, in particular, I want to express my gratitude to you, my classmates: thank you.