Dr. Daniel Spencer Haworth

Daniel Spencer Haworth, Ph.D. (50), Professor Emeritus of History from the University of Houston Clear Lake, passed away on Friday, April 9, 2021, at home in Houston, Texas from ALS. Dan was born on January 9, 1971, in High Point, North Carolina. He spent his childhood in Jamestown, NC, where he attended Guilford County public schools, graduated from Southwest Guilford High School, and earned his Eagle Scout award with Troop 1, Uwharrie Council, BSA. The summer between high school and college, Dan spent learning Spanish in Madrid and Salamanca, Spain. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with double majors in History and Spanish. He was a member of Chi Psi fraternity and served a year as President of the Carolina Hispanic Association (CHispA). Dan went on to earn his master’s degree and doctorate in History from the University of Texas at Austin. Completing his dissertation "Al grito de guerra" : war and the shaping of the Mexican nation-state, 1854-1861 in 2002.

Dan was fluent in Spanish—he called it “the language I love” and used it as often as possible. His research focused on everyday life in nineteenth-century Mexico. He published and presented his research in both Mexico and the United States. As a Fulbright-García Robles grantee (1998-1999), Dan lived in Mexico while conducting his dissertation research. Also during graduate school, Dan led backpacking trips across the southwest. Throughout his life, he loved traveling, exploring state and national parks, camping, and savoring every historical marker along the way.

Dr. Haworth started his career at Angelo State University (San Angelo, TX), then taught at Texas Southern University, before finding his professional home at the University of Houston Clear Lake in 2008. At UHCL, Dr. Haworth earned tenure and promotion to Associate Professor in 2014, was the founding director of the Latina/o and Latin American Studies (LLAS) program, and oversaw the creation the LLAS minor. He was involved in establishing Spanish language classes and enhanced partnerships with Sueño Latino student organizations at area high schools. Dr. Haworth taught undergraduate and graduate courses on an array of Latin American topics. He encouraged international studies at UHCL and aimed to advance awareness of Latin American past and present. Upon retirement, UHCL promoted him to Professor Emeritus.

Dan spent the summer of 2018 in Guanajuato, Mexico, marrying Sheila Katz and finishing the data collection for his book, Growing up in Guanajuato. His research concerned the intersection of family life and public authority in the lives of adolescents. That summer, the State of Guanajuato legislature invited him to present about the Mexican statesman Manuel Doblado Partida on the occasion of his 200th birthday.

Dan’s love for history, knowledge, language, culture, and food radiated through his life. Dan was a voracious reader and writer in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. He relished craft beers, art, film, and music. Dan was active in the Bayou City Road Runners club in Houston and completed both the 2017 and 2018 Houston Marathons and at least a dozen half marathons. Dan adored soccer and followed teams in several countries and three languages. Dan’s weekends were often spent watching footie games back to back. He was a scrumptious chef with skills in many cuisines, but Mexican and Tex-Mex always won out. Dan would say, “anything can be made into a taco” and that he “worshipped at the altar of pork.”

After his ALS diagnosis, Dan and Sheila traveled to Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Jamaica, Spain, San Francisco, Atlanta, Hawaii, and the North Carolina coast. They were working on a book together about his experiences with ALS, which she will finish in his honor. The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) filmed a short documentary about their journey. Dan was a cat daddy of seven including his cherished Princess Charlotte who was by his side for 16 years, sleeping on his lap everyday his last year. Despite ALS, Dan focused on his core values of love, compassion, and rationality. His dry sense of humor, keen mind, and beautiful smile will be deeply missed.

Surviving family: His beloved wife, Dr. Sheila M. Katz, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Houston. His cherished family: parents, William and Shirley Haworth of Jamestown, NC, and his brother and sister-in-law, Blair and Maggie Haworth of Washington, D.C. He is also deeply loved and will be profoundly missed by his extensive extended family in North Carolina and friends and family around the world.

Dr. Dan’s Celebration of Life will be Thursday, May 13, 2021, from 5 to 9pm, at La Mexicana (1018 Fairview Street, Montrose, Houston, Texas 77006). Those who wish to attend are asked to R.S.V.P. using the link below. We have been asked to limit attendance on the patio to around 50 people at any one time.  Friends who wish to attend are kindly asked to keep their visit to 90 minutes or less in an "open house" style format so that all who wish to come and honor Dan's memory may have a chance to stop by.

Another Celebration of Life will be held at his family home in North Carolina at a later date, details forthcoming.

Dan was cremated through Bradshaw Carter Funeral home in the Montrose. At his request, his ashes will be scattered in the Gulf of Mexico this summer.