Obituary for Daniel Robertson
Richard Daniel Robertson, beloved son of Marina and Ray Robertson, left this earth on March 22, 2022. He was born in Cartersville, GA on October 22, 1992 during Game 5 of the World Series which might have contributed to his lifelong love of baseball. He first learned his numbers by memorizing them from Atlanta Braves jerseys and received his first baseball equipment at age 3.
Daniel loved animals and as a young child spent as many hours as his mom would allow watching Animal Planet. In elementary school his dad’s Landmark history books became his favorites and he developed a great appreciation for history, especially World War II. At one point he owned well over 100 books on the subject. However, Daniel hated math and felt that putting numbers and letters together in math problems was an abomination.
Daniel loved stories and became an avid writer from an early age, delighting in using his great grandmother’s WWI era portable typewriter. After he got a hand-me-down electric guitar from his big sister, music became his passion in life. He played in his church’s early morning worship band for a number of years and found songwriting to be cathartic.
Daniel’s brain always seemed to work differently from the rest of his family. He was diagnosed first with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and then later social anxiety, but those never seemed to fully explain both the beauty and the challenging complexity of how he processed the world. Only years later, after he was out on his own, did the concept of neurodivergence enter into the mainstream. Daniel had the kindest heart.
His last years held many dark chapters. Daniel’s generosity and affinity for the underdog drew to him many damaged people who used him and were cruel to him. A deep-thinker to his core, Daniel struggled to find respite from grappling with the essential, existential questions that occasionally overwhelm us all. He often self-medicated with alcohol. In the past year Daniel’s situation improved greatly, with an employer who recognized his positive qualities and a kind landlord. Unfortunately, his ties to people that he was unable to see were not his friends proved impossible to sever and contributed to his death.
Daniel is survived by his parents, now of South Boston, VA; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Catherine and Steven Hall of Durham, NC; aunt and uncle, Chris and David Watts of Cartersville, GA; cousins who grew up with him and were like siblings: Lissie (Chris) Rhoton of The Woodlands, TX; Zach (Katie) Watts of San Diego, CA; and Nich Watts of Cartersville, GA.
He is also survived by an aunt and several uncles: Cathy & Joe Mathia of Hamden, CT; Robbie Robertson of Tucson, AZ; Ken Garrison of Cedar Rapids, IA; and cousins Hallie Mathia of Hamden, CT; Cloe Mathia of Pittsburgh, PA; Dean (Janelle) Garrison of Bloomsburg, PA; James (Nicole) Garrison of Walton, KY; and Caitlin Alex Garrison of Farrell, PA.
Arrangements were handled by Parnick Jennings funeral home with expert and compassionate assistance from Keith Willard. A private memorial will be held at a future date. Those wishing to honor Daniel‘s memory may make contributions to the Etowah Valley Humane Society, 36 Ladd’s Mountain Rd, Cartersville, GA 30120
Daniel loved animals and as a young child spent as many hours as his mom would allow watching Animal Planet. In elementary school his dad’s Landmark history books became his favorites and he developed a great appreciation for history, especially World War II. At one point he owned well over 100 books on the subject. However, Daniel hated math and felt that putting numbers and letters together in math problems was an abomination.
Daniel loved stories and became an avid writer from an early age, delighting in using his great grandmother’s WWI era portable typewriter. After he got a hand-me-down electric guitar from his big sister, music became his passion in life. He played in his church’s early morning worship band for a number of years and found songwriting to be cathartic.
Daniel’s brain always seemed to work differently from the rest of his family. He was diagnosed first with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and then later social anxiety, but those never seemed to fully explain both the beauty and the challenging complexity of how he processed the world. Only years later, after he was out on his own, did the concept of neurodivergence enter into the mainstream. Daniel had the kindest heart.
His last years held many dark chapters. Daniel’s generosity and affinity for the underdog drew to him many damaged people who used him and were cruel to him. A deep-thinker to his core, Daniel struggled to find respite from grappling with the essential, existential questions that occasionally overwhelm us all. He often self-medicated with alcohol. In the past year Daniel’s situation improved greatly, with an employer who recognized his positive qualities and a kind landlord. Unfortunately, his ties to people that he was unable to see were not his friends proved impossible to sever and contributed to his death.
Daniel is survived by his parents, now of South Boston, VA; his sister and brother-in-law, Mary Catherine and Steven Hall of Durham, NC; aunt and uncle, Chris and David Watts of Cartersville, GA; cousins who grew up with him and were like siblings: Lissie (Chris) Rhoton of The Woodlands, TX; Zach (Katie) Watts of San Diego, CA; and Nich Watts of Cartersville, GA.
He is also survived by an aunt and several uncles: Cathy & Joe Mathia of Hamden, CT; Robbie Robertson of Tucson, AZ; Ken Garrison of Cedar Rapids, IA; and cousins Hallie Mathia of Hamden, CT; Cloe Mathia of Pittsburgh, PA; Dean (Janelle) Garrison of Bloomsburg, PA; James (Nicole) Garrison of Walton, KY; and Caitlin Alex Garrison of Farrell, PA.
Arrangements were handled by Parnick Jennings funeral home with expert and compassionate assistance from Keith Willard. A private memorial will be held at a future date. Those wishing to honor Daniel‘s memory may make contributions to the Etowah Valley Humane Society, 36 Ladd’s Mountain Rd, Cartersville, GA 30120