UNT Physicist found dead in apartment

By: Phil Banker

Posted: 7/18/08

Daniel Henry, UNT Physics doctoral student and astronomy lecturer, was found dead Thursday night in his Denton apartment. Henry was 27 years old.

Troy Taylor of the Denton County Medical Examiner's office said that Henry was found at 10:42 p.m., but the actual time of death was undetermined. Taylor said that Henry died of apparent natural causes.

Kari Rogers of the physics department said Henry had "severe health problems," including Type 1 Diabetes.

"I think he's just about the sweetest guy ever," Rogers said.

Carol Bowden, administrative assistant for the Physics department said that Henry was a gentle person with "an outstanding sense of humor."

"He'd do anything for you, anything at all," Bowden said.

Bowden said that Henry "never hesitated" to help the undergraduate physics students as well.

Bowden added that Henry was "always volunteering to help students who were in trouble, always there to help new students feel comfortable."

Bowden called Henry "accidentally brilliant," and said that he loved to teach.

"He loved to wow the students," Bowden said. "He was a physicist, there was no doubt."

Aman Anand, physics alumnus, said that Henry "bailed him out" from teaching astronomy when he was married.

"Your shadow is more colorful than anything on the earth," Anand said of Henry. "You will be missed."

Nagaraj, physics graduate student, said that Henry trained him to teach astronomy upon his arrival to Denton.

"It seems like he's still alive," Nagaraj said. "I feel like he's still around."

Funeral arrangements are pending as of press time.