Townson, Dana
San Jose, CA: Dana Townson, 49, died at home on December 21, 2011, with her beloved wife Amy holding her hand, following a brave battle with pancreatic cancer.
Born in Rochester, NY, Dana was the second child of Helen Ann and Andrew J. Townson II. At Allendale Columbia, she was a top softball and soccer player and excelled in music. An outstanding alto saxophonist, Dana was chosen for a 1979 concert tour of Europe with an elite group of the USA's best young musicians. She attended the prestigious music program at the University of North Texas, and in 1990, received a degree in Electronic Engineering from DeVry University.
Dana was an audio engineer and recording studio owner, and her Texas studios, Castle Audio and Alley Cat Productions, recorded many Grammy Award-winning musicians.
In 1993, Dana's talent for technology led to an extremely successful career as an Apple certified hardware and software specialist, and she was one of the first women in the world to work in this capacity. She served as Service Manager at Associated Technical Services in Dallas, Texas, then as a Mac Genius for Apple at Willow Bend and Southlake. Most recently, Dana worked as Genius Trainer for Apple corporate in Cupertino, CA.
Whether making her legendary BBQ or saving someone's digital life, Dana brought tremendous passion and love to everything she did and everyone she met. Always happy and smiling, Dana could make a friend-for-life in minutes. She was warm, generous and selfless to a fault, putting other's needs before her own and expressing a rare, unconditional love. Very few lights have ever glowed as brightly as Dana's, and she was a radiant soul in the truest sense.
Dana is predeceased by both parents and survived by her loving wife Amy Quate; and brother Andrew J. Townson III, sister-in-law Bernadette, and nephew Drew of Boston.
Friends are invited to visit rememberingdana.com. Dana's wishes were for cremation and interment in the family mausoleum at historic Mount Hope Cemetery in Rochester. Memorial celebrations will be held in Silicon Valley, Dallas, and Rochester. Dana supported Guiding Eyes for the Blind and charities for music and the arts.
Published in Rochester Democrat And Chronicle on Jan. 15, 2012
