Dan Eshet, Ph.D., 65, of Newton Centre, passed away on August 23, 2026, surrounded by his family, at home.
Dan was a person of many talents. He was a loving husband to Dr. Sigal Yawetz; and father to Yoni (Yonathan) and the late Avigail. He was a brilliant scholar, a sharp-witted thinker, a deeply sensitive person who cared for all living beings, and a world-class friend.
Born on Kibbutz Cabri, in Israel, to Itzhak and Rachel Eshet, Dani, as he was known to many, grew up imbued with a profound ethic of caring. He was a keen student of history and philosophy at Tel Aviv University, where he received his B.A. and M.A. degrees. In 1991, he made a fateful life decision by choosing to continue his studies in the UCLA History Department. A year later, he married Sigal, who was serving as a medical resident at UCLA and the VA hospital. He completed his Ph.D. with a fine dissertation on modern English history. Along the way, he gained renown for throwing a great party, hosting friends, and cooking an amazing gourmet meal.
After completing his doctorate, Dan left Los Angeles for the Boston area, where he would spend the rest of his life. He entered the world of public history, where he served with distinction. For more than a decade, he worked at “Facing History,” the national organization devoted to K-12 education, where he authored a number of important U.S., European, and Jewish history works. He later took up a position as a program director for the Center for Holocaust and Genocide Education at Salem State University, where he introduced legions of students to the Holocaust and other genocides.
Dani was revered for his great intellect, wry sense of humor, vast powers of compassion, and unerring moral compass. All who knew him marveled at his uncommon resilience in the face of challenges, none of which was greater than the death of his daughter, Avigail, at age ten. Dan was accompanied on his life journeys by his wife, Sigal; his son, Yoni; and a remarkable network of dear friends, with whom he loved to talk, eat, ski, cycle, and do good in the world.
Dani Eshet was taken far too soon from the world, but his memory will always be a blessing.
Visiting Hours: Funeral will be on Friday, August 28, at 11am, at Newton Cemetery and Arboretum. Visiting Hours on Wednesday and Thursday, from 4:30-8:00pm, Sunday from 11:00am-1:00pm and 4:30-8:00pm. For info, syawetz@gmail.com.
Donations honoring Dani’s lifelong dedication to social justice and human rights may be made to a charity of one’s choice.
