JOHN E. DANIELSON

John Danielson was born in Connecticut on July 24, 1927. As a child, he went to Y camp and was a GraY and HiY member. After a short stay in the Navy, he attended Springfield College and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in 1950. Upon graduation, he accepted the position of Boys’ Work secretary at the Newton, Massachusetts, YMCA where he developed strong teen and camping programs.

In 1956 he accepted the position of branch executive of the Addison Road YMCA, a branch of the Cleveland, Ohio, Association. After four years in that position, he was promoted to assistant general secretary for program and membership at the Cleveland Metropolitan YMCA. In 1965, he became the general secretary for administration and personnel in Cleveland. While employed in Cleveland he worked to further youth programs, international work, and the development of the YMCA’s large sustaining campaign.

In 1970, Danielson became the president of the Greater Boston YMCA. He held this position for eleven years, overseeing sixteen branches, four camps, and 700 full-and part-time employees. He was a strong advocate for the YMCA’s involvement in juvenile justice programs. During his tenure, he also served six years as president of the Employees Alliance, a YMCA insurance program.

Danielson joined the YMCA national staff as the deputy executive director in 1981. There he was responsible for services to the Fields, support for Management Resource Centers, the YMCA Cluster System, the National Committee on Membership Standards, and the National Board. He was the first chairman of the World Urban Network and a key staff liaison to the North American Urban Group. Through Danielson’s leadership, three critical undertakings took shape. The first was to use the North American Urban Group to produce needed and exciting models for program, administration, financial development, and human resources. The second was to expand and enrich the Management Resource Centers, linking the best of the Urban Group YMCAs’ resources with smaller associations and the National YMCA. This was imperative in meeting the complexities of urbanization. The third undertaking was in the international arena. Danielson had a vision of key professional leaders sharing and developing resources from critical urban centers around the world. The YMCA World Urban Network continues to strengthen and shape the YMCA mission today because of his vision.

Danielson is retired and lives in North Carolina. He remains active in the YMCA today. He has served as interim director for the World Urban Network and was a consultant to the North American Urban Group.