Bay Area

Paul Anthony Daniels, 81

Published

6 years ago

February 20, 2020

Paul Anthony Daniels passed away peacefully Feb. 4, 2020 at the age of 81, after a sudden illness. He will always be remembered as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and supportive mentor to close relatives and friends.

The youngest of three sons born to Gladys and William Daniels, he entered this world on Aug. 11, 1938. He was raised in Berkeley and spent most of his free time playing baseball at San Pablo Park under the coaching of Bill Haywood.

When he went to Berkeley High School he made the baseball team as a sophomore. He was a three-year letterman in baseball at Berkeley, earning All League Honors as a shortstop in 1956.

He graduated from Berkeley High the same year and attended Santa Rosa Junior College, where he continued to play baseball before transferring to the University of California, Berkeley, in 1958. While at UCB, he met and later married Barbara Perry upon their graduation in 1961.

After working for the Berkeley Recreation Department, he returned to Berkeley schools to teach physical education and coach basketball, baseball and track. At Berkeley High, he served as department chairperson for physical education, athletic director and vice principal. During his coaching career he was known throughout the state for his championship teams.

He produced nine straight basketball championships during his nine years as Berkeley High’s varsity basketball coach. He led his team to win one NCS (North Coast Section) 3A championship and two runner-up finishes in the Tournament of Champions.

He posted a 220-64 career record and an amazing 109-10 record in league competition.

The Yellow Jackets averaged 24 wins a season under Daniels. He coached some of the outstanding athletes in the Bay Area. In 1983, Daniels became the first NCS Honor Basketball Coach.

He played a major role in landing a $3.4 million grant for Berkeley High that was used to build the Donahue Gym that he helped design.

Daniels also worked for the Oakland Unified School District as a principal at King Estates Junior High and assistant principal at Oakland High School.

He became the El Cerrito High School principal in 1992 and retired in 1998.

Daniels is survived by his wife of 58 years, Barbara Daniels; sons, Troy and Brent Daniels, and grandchildren, Trey, Gen and Kimiko Daniels.

A quiet hour was held at Fouché’s Hudson Funeral Home, 3665 Telegraph Ave. Oakland, CA on Feb. 19, 2020, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The funeral service was held on Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at 11:00 a.m. also at Fouché’s Hudson Funeral Home.. The interment followed the funeral service at Rolling Hills Memorial Park, 4100 Hilltop Dr. El Sobrante, CA.