Dr. Daniel C. Coy, 55, a longtime resident of Naperville, Ill., passed away suddenly on Oct. 25, 2018, in Denver, Colo.

Plans for a gathering in Ames to remember Dan are being explored. A private memorial visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., the time of the memorial service, on Monday, Dec. 17, at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 44 S. Mill St. Naperville, IL 60540.

For those wishing to leave a lasting tribute to Daniel’s memory, donations to the Community Christian Church BLAST Scholarship Fund at 1635 Emerson Ln. Naperville, IL 60540 would be appreciated. For more information, please call (630) 355-0213.

Daniel was born July 25, 1963, in Ames. He is a graduate of Iowa State University where he earned his bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and finally his Ph.D. in chemical engineering.

He was “very nerdy and proud of it.” His principal academic work concerned the use of sophisticated computer graphics to illustrate difficult concepts in classical physical chemistry — thermodynamics in particular.

Dan produced both fixed and movable images of geometric structures representing concepts used both in the teaching and application of that difficult subject. He contributed importantly to the development of one of ISU’s earliest commercial software packages for teaching.

But Dan was never an “all work and no play” kind of guy. He was not only good with an actual pool cue, he also wrote an original “Computer Pool” program that was so realistic it found its way to the pages of BYTE magazine.

Daniel Coy was certainly a master of chemical engineering, applied mathematics and computer programming. But he was equally skilled at organizing difficult tasks with many branches.

To do the work for his Ph.D., he had to manage three separate operations: solving complex equations, adapting the results to 1980s-era graphics software and creating understandable and pleasing visual displays. His work continues to be circulated among students and scholars knowledgeable in thermodynamics.

Daniel was a man of science who was strong in his faith and volunteered much of his time to the Wayside Cross Ministry, American Promise and the Community Christian Church as a youth group leader. He was a true friend to many and will be sorely missed.

Daniel is survived by his children, Brandon Park Coy and Mira Park Coy; parents, Janice and Darrell Coy, of Ames; siblings, Janet (John) Hofmeyer, Julie (Peggy Hill) Coy and Douglas Coy; and nieces and nephews, Jennifer Curtis, Joy Koopmans, Jeanette Hofmeyer and John Hofmeyer IV.

http://www.amestrib.com/obituaries/20181103/dr-daniel-c-coy-july-25-1963-8212-oct-25-2018