Daniel S. Hodgins

Daniel S. Hodgins died peacefully in his sleep from complications of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) on the 59th anniversary of his marriage to his wife, Amy.

Dan was born in Scranton, PA to Alva Stephen Hodgins and Jane Chupko Hodgins.  Five years later, Dan’s sister, Dianne Hodgins Roberson was born. The family moved to Brookhaven, PA, where Dan attended Ridley Park High School.  Dan acquired his love of learning from his mother and his love of fishing and all things nautical from his father.

After high school, Dan graduated with a degree in chemistry from Elizabethtown College in Elizabethtown, PA.  He then attended the University of Delaware (U. of D.) where he participated in an academic exchange program with Harvard University.  Dan earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from the U. of D. in 1965.

Dan married Amy (Joan) Flogl of Dover, Delaware in 1965.  They moved to Boston where Dan enrolled in a two-year post-doctoral program in biochemistry at Brandeis University.  As Amy finished her degree in political science, their first child, Katherine Jane “Kate” was born. 

In 1967, Dan joined the biochemistry department at the University of Oklahoma.  He became a tenured faculty member, researcher, and advisor to students on the Ph.D. track.  In 1968, Dan and Amy were surprised to learn that they were expecting twins. Nicholas Stephen and Dianne Elizabeth were born in Oklahoma City. 

The family enjoyed many camping trips throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado.  These trips provided an opportunity for Dan to pursue his passions for fishing and swimming in icy cold lakes.  Eventually Dan accumulated so much camping equipment that he could have stocked a Coleman storage facility.

In the mid-1970’s, the family moved to Edmond, Oklahoma.  Dan became a founding member of the Edmond Historical Society as the family settled into country living.  Dan and his good friend, Chad Cox, a fellow academic, spent Saturdays at nearby lakes and Sundays playing chess and talking about “that twenty-pound fish that got away”. 

During his years in Edmond, Dan cemented his political beliefs and became an active member of the Democratic Party.  He supported many progressive agendas and was a staunch believer that climbing the ladder of success meant an obligation to extend a hand to those below.  

As the 1970’s progressed, Dan became increasingly interested in understanding cancer, how human cells worked, why cells go rogue, and how to reverse that process.  He decided to become a patent attorney to assist scientists working on the study and manipulation of rogue cells to prevent malignant manifestations.  In pursuit of this goal, Dan earned a J.D. from the Oklahoma City University School of Law in 1977.

Dan worked with the firm of Dunlap and Codding in Oklahoma before moving the family to Austin, TX in 1984 and becoming a partner at Arnold, White and Durkee.  In 1999, Dan returned to Oklahoma to work for the firm of Crowe and Dunlevy.  The work as a patent attorney allowed him to keep one foot in the academic world and the other foot in the legal world.  It also facilitated the acquisition of numerous patents for faculty at UT, Baylor and MD Anderson.  Dan had great respect for his clients and admiration for the attorneys he met along the way. 

Dan served as a member of several organizations including the Oklahoma, Texas, Federal and American Bar Associations and the American Intellectual Property Law Association (Biotechnology Patent Committee) and Patent Law Sections of the American Bar Association.  He also was an officer of the American Chemical Society (Division of Chemistry and the Law) and was appointed to the Joint Board-Counsel Committee on Patents and Related Matters in 1992.  In addition, Dan held memberships in the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Sigma Xi Scientific Research Society. 

Despite his professional success, Dan’s favorite activities involved his children and grandchildren. He spent endless hours reading, sharing his broad musical interests, playing chess, swimming, visiting museums, and traveling with his family.  The annual Holiday display of the family’s Lionel Model Train nestled in the 0-27 scale “Plasticville” village, became a tradition carried on by his children.

In retirement, one of Dan’s favorite pastimes was painting.  He converted part of the family garage into an art studio.  Every member of the extended family and many Austin residents have a copy of his work.  Dan was a steady contributor to his grandchildren’s elementary school fairs, where his paintings helped to raise funds for school enrichment programs.

In his youth, Dan developed a close relationship with his cousin, Mac McGuire; Mac’s wife, Peggy; their children, Joe, David, and Kathy; and their families.  He made many lifelong friends at the U. of D. including Gary Greenburg, a groomsman with whom he remained in touch with for the remainder of his life.

Dan also developed a strong relationship with his academic colleague, Creed Abell, with whom he worked closely with in both Oklahoma and Texas.  Dan and Amy were very fortunate to travel with longtime friends, including Karen Kennedy and Frank James, Marge and Creed Abell, Kay Trostle and Joe Thrash, and David and Sue Langton. 

Dan considered himself fortunate that despite his MS, he was able to escort his daughters, Kate and Dianne down the aisle at their weddings and attend his son, Nick’s wedding as well. Dan was delighted that his children married the wonderful and accomplished people who survive him: Kate to Don Chambers, Dianne to Marc Parrish, and Nick to Amy Oshinsky.  Dan was exceedingly proud of his grandchildren, Alex Parrish, Malia Parrish, and Samantha Eloa and husband, Jose.

Daniel Hodgins is survived by his wife, Amy; beloved sister, Dianne Roberson; children, Kate, Nick, and Dianne; niece, Becky Roberson; and his grandchildren, cousins, and friends throughout the United States, Canada, and Europe. 

A private family memorial service will be held in Austin later in the year.  The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Dan’s memory be made to the National MS Foundation.  https://secure.nationalmssociety.org