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Born in Childesburg, AL on February 5th 1942, Benjiman Danny Webb, Professor Emeritus of German at the University of Miami, died in Austin, TX on January 29th 2018.
After graduating from Millington Central High School (TN) in 1960, Danny attended Memphis State where he received his B.S. cum laude in 1964. While in Memphis, Danny met his soul mate Julia Moss when they were both working at the local theater, Plaza Cinema, and they married in 1966. They moved to Los Angeles where Danny attended University of Southern California, receiving degrees in German (M.A. 1966, Ph.D. 1968).
In 1968, Danny became an assistant professor of German at the University of Miami, where he eventually became the Director of German and also earned an M.B.A. (1985). A member of the American Association of German Teachers, Danny had a great love for the German language, literature and culture. In recognition of his dedication to all things German, Danny received The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Vedienstkreuz, 1st Class in 1987. A member of Phi Beta Kappa, Danny held his students to high standards and was a successful and influential teacher, seen by many of his colleagues as a pied piper whose students followed him around campus seeking help not only with their studies, but advice and support for their future careers and personal lives.
Many students remained in contact with Danny well beyond graduation. His teaching was officially recognized in 2003 when he received The Faculty Senate of University of Miami Outstanding Teaching Award in 2003. Dedicated to the University of Miami, Danny served as Director of the Honors Program from 1999-2003, as well as Associate Master of Mahoney Residential College for two years and Master of Pearson Residential College for four years. His service to UM was recognized by his induction into Iron Arrow and Omicron Delta Kappa.
A member of the American Philatelic Society since 1976, Danny was an avid stamp collector. He had varied and sometimes seemingly incongruent tastes, loving the music of Ella Fitzgerald, Kiri Tekanawa, and Dolly Parton. While he taught complex German novels and film, one of his favorite movies was “The Muppet Movie.”
He loved travelling the world with Julia and often daughter Pamela, from Germany to Egypt to China to 224 parks in the National Park system. His greatest love was for his family. He is survived by his beloved Julia, his treasured daughter Pamela Webb-Elliott and her husband Matthew Lee Elliott, his adored granddaughters Genevieve and Josephine, all of Austin Texas, his dear sister Patricia A. Webb, of Brighton TN, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents C.B.Webb Sr. and Ethel Selph Webb, brother C.B.Webb Jr, and sister Mary Faye Webb Vandiveer.
The family will privately mourn this loss. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Heart Association (https://donatenow.heart.org/?s_src=NAV ).
Written by Jane Connolly
February 16, 2018
