Funeral Scheduled for Pelham Native

Robert M. Daly, M.D., 76, passed away October 16, 2011, with family and friends by his side at his Darien, Connecticut home.

He was the former Commissioner of Mental Health for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and served as the First Deputy Commissioner of Mental Health and Alcoholism for New York City under Mayors Beame and Lindsay.

In 2000, Dr. Daly was named Physician of the Year for the Millennium by Greater Bridgeport Medical Society for his contributions to the practice of psychiatry and to the community.  He served as Chairman of Psychiatry of Park City Hospital in Bridgeport, CT from 1981 to 1993 and Chairman of Psychiatry for Bridgeport Hospital from 1981 through 2001. He helped to establish Bridgeport Hospital’s Department of Psychiatry and was involved in the creation of the area’s first hospital-based day program for patients with emotional problems.

In 2001, he retired from Bridgeport Hospital and took on the role as Associate Psychiatrist at Silver Hill Hospital. He was also a Visiting Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Dr. Daly volunteered in Louisiana, providing psychiatric support to hurricane victims.

Southold, on the North Fork of Long Island, was where Dr. Daly summered surrounded by a large extended family.  His love of action began here and led to his excelling at sports including skiing, sailing, tennis and running. On February 13, 1956, Dr. Daly was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine caught in mid-stride, at NYC’s Madison Square Garden, as a lead-off runner in the 1-mile relay representing The College of the Holy Cross. He holds the track and field record for the 220 yard low hurdles at Holy Cross and competed regularly in the Millrose Games.  His love of sports was without season and he was always accompanied by a cadre of friends.  “Dingle” Daly’s love of life was guided by his faith and extended to his joining the choir of St. John’s Parish in Darien, CT.

Bob is predeceased by his wife, Joyce Romano Daly, whom he devotedly supported in sickness and in health; his parents Thomas F. and Genevieve T. Daly; his brother Donald T. Daly; and his brother-in-law Dr. Ralph Romano.  He is survived by his four children: Kristen Daly and her husband, CC Lagator, and daughter, Morrissey Joyce Lagator, who live in Boulder, CO; Kathryn Daly of Santa Monica, CA; Robert Jr. and his wife Sarah Daly of New York, NY; and Matthew Daly of New York, NY. He is also survived by his loving companion Barbara Griffin; his brother and sister-in-law Thomas F. and Joyce Daly of Mount Pleasant, SC; his sister Genevieve D.  McGrath of Southold, NY; his brother and sister-in law David M. and Marilyn Daly also of Southold; his sisters-in-law Carole Maimone of McClean, VA and Alexandra Nichols of New York, NY, along with thirty-nine nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews.

Originally from Pelham Manor, New York, Dr. Daly graduated from The College of the Holy Cross and received his M.D. from Georgetown University.  He did postgraduate work at a number of institutions including Jersey City Medical Center, Seton Hall University, St. Vincent’s Medical Center of New York, the Payne Whitney Clinic of New York-Cornell Hospital, and the William Alanson Institute of Psychoanalysis.  He was a captain in the Medical Corps, U.S. Army, serving in Korea as Assistant Chief of Psychiatry and at the Fort Ord U.S. Hospital, California, as same.

After military service, Dr. Daly was in private practice in New York City and was Director of Hospital Services at Soundview Community Mental Health Center of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  He has held academic appointments at the University of Pennsylvania, Temple, Penn State, The Medical College of Pennsylvania, Albert Einstein, Ithaca College, The National University of Seoul (Korea), Cornell University Medical School, Hahnemann Medical College, and the Department of Psychiatry at Yale Medical School. Dr. Daly’s research projects included work in magnesium levels in schizophrenia, iron metabolism, and free amino acids in the brain.  He was an associate editor of The Journal for Bronx State Hospital and has authored many papers and studies dealing with various aspects of clinical psychiatry and has lectured extensively.

He was president of the Fairfield/Litchfield Chapter of Connecticut Psychiatric Society (1985) and had been a member of  that professional organization as well as the Connecticut Psychiatric Society, American Medical Society, Connecticut Medical Association, Fairfield Medical Association, Bridgeport Medical Association, American Association of General Hospital Psychiatrics, American Psychiatry Association, Pennsylvania Psychiatry Society, American Association of Psychiatric Administrators and a Founding Fellow of the American College of Mental Health Administrators.  He was appointed to many roles, some of which were to the Southwest Regional Mental Health Board, Chairman of Region I Directors of Psychiatry, and he was a consultant to The Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Dr. Daly’s wisdom and the joy in his laughter will continue to impact his patients, colleagues, professional and personal communities, and his unwavering dedication to his children, family and friends, which had no end, will continue to strengthen and support them.

A wake was held at Edward Lawrence Funeral Home in Darien, CT. A funeral mass will be held Friday, Oct. 21, at 10 a.m. at St. John Catholic Church in Darien, CT. Donations may be sent to the following charities:

The Connecticut Hospice100 Double Beach Road Branford, CT  06405 203-315-7500         
Mount Manresa Jesuit Retreat House 239 Fingerboard Road Staten Island, NY. 10305 Phone: 718-727-3844