Daniel Doub Huntingford passed away in Port Townsend December 17th, 2018 at the age of 66. He was born October 8th, 1952 to George H. and Sally (Sara Louise Doub) Huntingford in Port Townsend. He was fourth generation to live in Chimacum Valley and was the fifth of six children. While attending Chimacum School he excelled in football and basketball, played trumpet in the band, and taught himself to play the guitar, forming with classmates a band called The Blue Lemon. They played popular hits and some original pieces that Leinad composed, (Daniel backwards, the moniker Dan used as a writer). Dan also served as Chimacum High School student body president. After graduating in 1970, he studied Communications and Advertising at the Edward R. Murrow School of Communications at Washington State University where he was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.
In 1983 he married Louise Huntingford (nee Bertolin) at Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend. They had two children, son Jonathan and daughter Emily. They established a home overlooking Discovery Bay just off Cape George Road.
Dan served as the advertising manager at The Leader from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s. While there he quadrupled the sales and relished the opportunity to help local businesses grow and prosper. He bought SOS Printing in 1997 and was incredibly proud of building it up to be one of the best equipped, highest-tech, small print shops around. He worked tirelessly to become a Green Certified, five star EnviroStar, and Forest Stewardship Certified business.
Outside of work Dan played an active role in the community by serving as president and on the board of directors of Kiwanis, becoming a Legion of Honor winner, serving as president of the Jefferson County Pilot’s Association, Chamber of Commerce board member, Rhody Run board member (running in over 30 Rhody Runs!), and as a founding member of the National Printowner’s Association. One of his greatest joys was giving back to the community and he donated over a quarter of a million dollars to small projects, charities and non-profits in Jefferson County. Even as SOS Printing was closing its doors he ensured the remaining paper was gifted to both Chimacum and Port Townsend Schools.
Dan was a quiet and kind man characterized by his wry wit and quirky sense of humor. Walking along the beach by Discovery Bay, sitting in his blue recliner reading anything and everything, and strumming his guitar were some of his favorite activities. He wrote over 100 songs (music and lyrics), about 30 short stories, a novel and a volume of poetry. He was also a pilot of a Piper Cherokee and loved to travel. He flew to Mexico and Canada, and with the family on longer trips to Kenya, all around the UK and France. Once a year he would make the pilgrimage down to Ashland for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and over to Pullman to support his beloved WSU Cougs. He loved his family, home, and community and thought there was no better place on earth; though perhaps a Chateau in the south of France would have been alright.
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, George H. and Sally Huntingford and his nephew, Jonathan L. Huntingford.
Dan is survived by wife of 35 years, Louise of Port Townsend, son Jon of Bellingham, and daughter Emily of Seattle. He is also survived by siblings: George (spouse Sharon) Huntingford, Fran Gunn, Judy (spouse Ron) Baum, Harriet (spouse Mike) Lynch, and Howard Huntingford; also brothers-in-law Gordon (spouse Paula) Bertolin, Bret (spouse Stacy) Bertolin, Hugh Bertolin; and many nephews and nieces.
A Celebration of Life for Dan will be held Sunday, January 27th at 3:00 pm at the Port Townsend Aero Museum 191 Airport Cutoff Rd, Port Townsend, to honor his love of flying. All are invited.
