Honoring the Life and Legacy of Professor Emeritus Daniel G. Fay

We share with sadness the passing of Professor Emeritus Daniel G. Fay, a longtime friend, mentor, and educator at SUNY Canton. Dan passed away on Saturday, September 13, 2025, at Canton-Potsdam Hospital, where he was surrounded by his family, according to his obituary.

Calling hours will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, September 18, at O’Leary Funeral Home in Canton. A Funeral Mass will be held at noon on Friday, September 19, at St. Mary’s Church in Canton. The SUNY Canton College Flag will be flown at half-staff for both days.

Professor Fay was a 50-year SUNY Canton educator who taught accounting, an area business owner, a Canton town councilmember, a former St. Lawrence County Legislator, a past member of the Canton Highway, Audit, and Recreation Committees, and a member of the Knights of Columbus, among numerous other service-oriented positions. He received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service in 2011 and was inducted into the College’s Hall of Fame in 2016. He retired in 2018. Most recently, he celebrated 35 years with the Canton College Foundation Board and accepted the College Council’s Posthumous Distinguished Citizen award with his family on behalf of his late wife, Nursing Professor Emerita Linda Fay.

SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran said, “SUNY Canton has lost an integral member of its community. Dan Fay will be remembered for numerous reasons, firstly through his 50-year commitment to our College as a much-loved and esteemed faculty member who influenced generations of students. He gave tirelessly to the College and the surrounding area, including through scholarship support through the Canton College Foundation, his service as an elected leader and his countless charitable endeavors. Perhaps most importantly, he was a colleague, a mentor, and a friend to so many people. My heart is with everyone who knew him.” 

College Council Chair Ronald M. O’Neill ’63 said, “I’m proud to call Danny my friend. We used to meet every day for coffee at Burger King in Canton. Many people know how generous he was, but they might not know about how many students and others he helped anonymously. He exemplified the very best qualities of a citizen, educator, and leader. His dedication to SUNY Canton and the community of Canton created a legacy that is respected and will be remembered for generations. No matter where you went, be it mass at St. Mary’s, a sports event, or the Hoot Owl, Danny was always there. I will miss him tremendously, and my thoughts are with his family.”

Canton College Foundation Board Chair Anne C. Williams ’78 said, “Dan was a dedicated supporter of all things SUNY Canton. He was generous in every way imaginable, be it time or financial support. His guiding principles of hard work, confidence, and generosity were an inspiration to those who knew him. If you are connected with our College, you were considered a friend of Dan’s, whether you knew him or not. My prayers go out to his family during this difficult time. The entire Canton community will miss him.”

Associate Professor William A. Myers ’83 said, “I had the good fortune to have been Danny's officemate for my first two years at SUNY Canton. He was the best colleague and friend that you could ever have. Danny had high expectations for his colleagues and the educational experience that they provided to SUNY Canton students. I remember Danny expressing the importance of being early to the classroom and teaching for the full scheduled time. Danny led by example, being present at the College every day and being easily accessible to his students. He was an excellent mentor in the workplace and a great friend outside of work. Danny helped me to learn my way around the area and helped make connections in the business and political community.”