Daniel Patrick Liston, Ph.D.
Nov. 27, 1953 – Dec. 28, 2024
We are commemorating the life of Daniel Patrick Liston, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus at the University of Colorado Boulder School of Education, who was widely known and recognized in his field and appreciated and loved by the many people in his life. Dan died suddenly at his home in Rochester, N.Y., Dec. 28, 2024, of a heart attack.
Dan was born to William and Emilie Liston on Nov. 27, 1953, in Cheverly, Md., and grew up in Muncie, Ind., in a Catholic family with five siblings. His older sisters lovingly tolerated him, and his younger siblings looked up to him as the cool older brother who, in high school, dressed impeccably and had the confidence and charm to respectfully disagree with his father.
After graduating from Earlham College, he ventured to New York City to try the world of modern dance, but a knee injury sidelined him. The knee injury was fortuitous because Dan soon found his niche in the world of education — teaching in elementary and middle schools and earning his doctorate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He was on the faculty at Washington University in St. Louis for five years and at the University of Colorado for more than 30 years. Dan’s career as a professor of education sustained him, almost as much as his two boys did. He was the model of what a true professor should be: He deeply cared for his students, always humanizing, never shaming; always willing to help, never dismissing; and teaching with a love of learning. Dan’s scholarly work in several fields, including curriculum studies and teacher education, was widely recognized for its moral clarity and radical infusion of love, contemplation and courage into academic discourse. In his writing, as in much of his life, his heart was at the center. He won numerous university-wide awards for his scholarly and professorial work, the most treasured of which were the awards for teaching, including the University of Colorado’s “The Best Should Teach” Award.
Dan was deeply committed to the social-emotional and professional wellness of educators. He served for many years as co-director of Colorado Courage & Renewal, where he led retreats and professional development programs for teachers, helping them come alive with a renewed sense of purpose, deepening their commitment to the communities they care for, integrating their calling to serve with the demands of school efficiency and effectiveness, and re-sparking the passion for their life’s work.
In his personal life, Dan had the rare ability to connect with most anyone. Dan’s friends treasured him as someone who made others feel seen and listened to. He led from his heart with openness and genuine kindness. He and Michele had been married for 46 years, a committed relationship that transcended norms and nourished both their spirits equally. His sons, Ira and Matthew, grew up with a father who made it a point to consistently tell his boys what made them special in his eyes. Dan leaves behind a legacy of integrity, compassion and his special brand of (sometimes infuriating) humor that will continue to inspire all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Dan recently made the best move of his life to Rochester, N.Y., to be close to his son Matthew, daughter-in-law Jess and his first grandson, Rory. He enjoyed being back in a diverse urban environment and loved spending his days with Rory. In the last year of his life, Dan wholeheartedly jumped into his role as PopPop. He and Rory spent countless hours playing, napping and mimicking each other’s noises. Dan particularly loved watching Rory discover the world with new and fresh eyes.
He is survived by his spouse, Michele Seipp; son Matthew Liston (Jessica Meyer); grandson Rory Seyerton; and sisters Linda Jackson, Michelle Rotz, and Patricia Kitchell. He is predeceased by his parents; son Ira Liston; and siblings Kevin Liston and Ann Pellar.
A memorial service will be planned sometime in 2025. As a way of honoring Dan, donations can be made to A Queer Endeavor, a project in Colorado he helped mentor, which focuses on equity and justice in schools, or to the Rochester Imagination Library, an organization addressing childhood poverty by sending a free book each month to any child in Rochester. Please help us keep Dan alive in our hearts by sharing photos, memories, and stories about him at tinyurl.com/DanListon.
We know Dan would appreciate having the last word, and we think his words to us would be the ones he said to his sons when he dropped them off at school each day: “Love yourself and love others.”
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Condolences – we went to school together in Muncie – what a fantastic an academic career!!!
I extend heartfelt condolences to Dan’s family and friends. I knew him though his wok in the field and through mutual colleagues Michael Apple (Dan’s doctoral advisor) and Jim Garrison (Dan’s coauthor). I know and admire Dan even more after reading the beautifully written obituary tribute, and hope we can all live up to Dan’s advice to love yourself and others.
I would like to extend my sincerest condolences to Dan’s family and friends. I fondly remember the entire Liston family. We all were members of the Catalina Swim Club. While Dan and I were the same age, I spent more time with his sisters. I will forever remember our fun times at the pool.
Condolences. Dan & I graduated from high school together, & he embodied inclusivity, friendliness, and a great sense of humor.