Obituary of Thompson H. McDaniel

Thompson Hargraves McDaniel, a native of Nashville, TN and longtime resident of Madison, NJ and Vero Beach, Florida, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 14, 2023 at Garden Terrace in Chatham. He was 85.

He is survived by his children Ann Benton and her husband Gary, Kathryn Nenning and her husband Leopold, Thompson McDaniel, Jr. and his wife Eva, and Sara Fahey and her husband John; brother Allen McDaniel; and nine grandchildren: Caroline, Elizabeth, Emily, Richard, Alexander, Patrick, Anna, Ginger, and Wylder; and many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

Thompson was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 40 years, Mary Barrow McDaniel, and his brothers Fontaine and Charles McDaniel.

Born in Nashville on May 15^th, 1937 to the late Matthew Fontaine and Ann McDaniel, he grew up the third of four boys. He had many nicknames, including Tom, Tommy, and Tennessee McD, but the one that stuck for the rest of his life was Butch.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University. While there, he met the love of his life, Mary. Thompson moved to Greenwich Village in New York in 1959 to work on Wall Street. Mary also took a position in Manhattan a short time later, after graduating from Vanderbilt.  The couple married on June 10, 1961. Soon afterward, Thompson was drafted into the army where he honorably served for two years during peacetime.

Thompson had a long and successful career as a bond trader in New York City, where he became a bond market legend thanks to his memory for trading positions. He started out at Equitable Securities, eventually moving on to other firms, often teaming up with his brother Charles.

Almost equal to his stature as a bond trader was his reputation for helping others. Several of his children had summer internships on Wall Street, and they could hardly turn around without someone telling them how their father had helped them make a business connection or find a new job.

After retiring from Wall Street, he founded, along with several associates, The Bank of Somerset Hills, now known as Lakeland Bank. He also was President of Morris County Golf Club from 1996 - 1999.

A great athlete and lifelong sports fan, he could be found on the golf course and ski slopes, eating a hotdog with his children at Yankee Stadium, cheering on the Giants, or in front of the TV with his wife, watching the final hours of a golf tournament on a Sunday afternoon.  

His family remembers him as an engaging presence, able to talk to any stranger and find a  least three people they had in common. Although not known for having a golden voice, some of his children’s favorite memories are of him bursting out in song.

He was a faithful Catholic and loyal friend. Though his family will deeply miss his presence, they take comfort in knowing Thompson is at peace with the Lord.

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend a visitation for Thompson held on Friday, April 21, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Madison Memorial Home, 159 Main Street, Madison.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM at the Church of Christ the King, 16 Blue Mill Road, New Vernon, NJ 07976.

Interment will follow at Hilltop Cemetery, Mendham, NJ.

In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions may be made in Thompson’s memory to Christ the King Church’s “We Care, We Share” Outreach Fund at https://churchofchristtheking.org/wcws