DANIEL ALFRED BRANIFF

March 12, 1931 – December 21, 2025 Passed away peacefully holding the hand of his loving wife of 71 years, Patricia (Stockie) and surrounded by family. Dan is the beloved father of Michele Braniff (John Oudyk), Daniel P. Braniff (Audra Deics), Heather Mielzynski and former son-in-law, Andrew and grandfather of seven grandchildren: Michele's children, Darrah Bumstead (Bryan Hibbs), Carly Ottaway (Luke) and Everett Bumstead (Ayesha Habib); Dan's children, Grace Braniff (Justin Mourant) and Nathan Braniff (Sabria Farheen); and Heather's daughters, Jenna Mielzynski (Carter Nichol) and Erin Mielzynski (Lennie Valjas). Dan and Pat's family includes six great-grandchildren, Fiona, Kennedy, Fletcher, Walter, Blake and Holden. Daniel began his career at Bell Canada as a lineman and retired from the executive suite at 363 University Ave. Toronto. In 1984, he became the first President of Canadian Council of Indigenous Business. Advocacy work includes his role as President of Bell Pension Group (after the bankruptcy of Confederation Life in 1994). His "exceptional leadership" was recognized as a key factor in the reimbursement of pensioner losses. Dan continued this advocacy work in collaboration with CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons) whose web-site describes Dan as "pivotal in pushing the pension splitting agenda forward" resulting in a change in income tax legislation in 2007. In addition to volunteer activities with Junior Achievement, United Way (Toronto) and Southern Ontario Division of the Canadian Ski Association for alpine racing and Ontario Waterski Association (now Waterski Ontario), Dan, along with wife, Patricia, and family enjoyed watching and volunteering to support water ski competitions across Canada and alpine ski races (at Loretto and Georgian Peaks Ski Resorts). Dan's love of alpine ski racing, cross-country and water skiing is a legacy shared by children, grand- and great-grandchildren. Daniel was a highly skilled wood turner, whose bowls have been shown in international competitive art shows as far away as Japan and are cherished by family and close friends. His earliest entrepreneurial venture involved selling the Globe & Mail to Kitchener commuters daily with a no change- on- your quarter policy, and then jumping from the moving train. The family is deeply grateful for the kindness and excellent care at Meaford LTC and Meaford Hospital. A Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, 63 Elgin Street, Collingwood on Friday, January 2, 2026, at 10:30a.m. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to the Canadian Council for Indigenous Business https://www.ccib.ca/ccib-donate/, Meaford Hospital Foundation https://mhfoundation.ca/donate/ or Living Better with Parkinsons https://livingbetterwithparkinsons.ca/donate/. To sign Dan's Book of Memories, please visit www.chattersonfuneralhome.com