Daniel Ira Maizlish
Daniel’s long struggle with a complex variety of illnesses ended painlessly at Cottage Hospital on the evening of November 2.
Daniel was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Israel Leon Maizlish and Mae Maizlish, and younger brother of Morton Maizlish. When Daniel was 4, the family moved to Flint, Michigan. Daniel completed high school in Flint, then earned a BA with High Honor from Justin Morrill College at Michigan State University in East Lansing. After two years in San Francisco, Daniel returned to Flint to help when his father became ill, then lived there until they all moved to Santa Barbara together in 1975. He remained in Santa Barbara for the rest of his life.
Daniel was a soft-spoken, thoughtful, and private man who lived a solitary life but followed many interests. He had a heartfelt and lifelong concern for social justice. He was fascinated by philology and etymology, and did extensive research of his own in language and its uses. He was always interested in nutrition, and spent a great deal of time studying and selecting proper foods. He read deeply and analyzed the works of his favorite authors, particularly Douglas Adams, Lewis Carroll, Booth Tarkington, J.R.R. Tolkien. Above all, he loved wordplay. Daniel had a wicked sense of humor and an endless supply of quotes, puns, palindromes, and one-liners from his pantheon—Groucho Marx, W.C. Fields, Ogden Nash, S.J. Perelman, Henny Youngman.
For the final two+ years of Daniel’s life, he received excellent medical and residential care at Cottage Hospital, Serenity House, and Samarkand/Smith Health Care. Our family is grateful for the kindness and generous personal attention they provided to Daniel.
He is survived by his brother Morton Maizlish and sister-in-law Alicia Maizlish of Santa Barbara, and his nephews and niece Aaron Maizlish, Lisa Maizlish Connolly, David Maizlish and J Maizlish Mole. He will be missed by all of his extended family, especially at holidays, when he would always contribute poetry and humor from his vast collection.
Contributions in Daniel’s memory may be sent to Direct Relief International or Unity Shoppe of Santa Barbara.