Date: Fri 14-Mar-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

snaphot-Daniel-Amaral-Danny

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT DANNY AMARAL

Occupation: President of Amaral Motors, Chrysler-Plymouth sales and service.

How long in Newtown: All my life.

Family: My mother was originally from Newtown - Mary Helen Eagan. She lived on

a farm here and also taught school in Newtown's one-room school houses -

Huntingtown, and I think she also taught at Hattertown. My father came to town

as a chauffeur for Mrs Marshall; their house was on Main Street. She passed

away - I think it was during the Depression. That's when he met mother, and

bought this little corner. That's how we got here. I have one brother, Marcus,

who works here as parts manager; my wife is Carol; we have three daughters.

Catherine is office manager here; she has two young children and lives in

Sandy Hook. Cynthia just had a child, and she lives in Sandy Hook, too. She

works for Grolier. Our youngest is Cheryl. She has an apartment in Greenwich

and works for Coca-Cola of New York as an accountant.

Biggest change in Newtown: I'd say the biggest is the closing of Fairfield

Hills Hospital. Increasing traffic, and a super lot of more homes. There's a

lot [of change] when you think about it.

Favorite car: They always seem to be Chrysler products. We have a '41 Chrysler

- a Saratoga - that my father sold new and we bought it back from an estate.

It belonged to a banker, Carlton Hubbell.

What do you like best about your job: Meeting different people, [helping

them.]

Biggest change in the car industry: Everything is becoming more electronic,

more sophisticated. Years ago, you could figure out without hardly any

equipment what was wrong with a car. Today it's more difficult, but the basics

are still the same.

Hobbies: Skiing (we go to Mt Snow or Haystack), snow-mobiling - couldn't do

that this year, and [going to the driving range] - I don't like to chase the

balls, just hit them. I don't know if you'd call it a hobby, but mowing the

fields [here] with the tractor. It's peaceful; nobody's bothering me. It was a

farm; there are approximately 26 acres including the business.

What type of movie do you like: Suspense. I don't keep track of names or of

actors. I just know if it's good.

Favorite place outdoors in Newtown: I just like walking around the property,

enjoying it.

Organizations: I did belong to the Jaycees, but I "retired" from there. I

belong to the Knights of Columbus. My hours aren't flexible enough [to join

more organizations].

Favorite food: Roast beef.

What is one prominent memory about growing up in Newtown: I remember driving

at a young age - under 16. Backroads. I pretty much learned to drive on a

Model A.

Personal philosophy: Try to treat everyone as you would want to be treated.

Try to treat everyone as an equal.