Daniel Francis Coyle

Daniel “Dan” Francis Coyle, 76, a resident of William Penn House in Center City, Philadelphia, died peacefully on Wednesday, August 11, 2021, at Penn Hospice at Rittenhouse. Dan was born at St. Agnes Hospital in South Philly and raised in Colwyn in Delaware County. He graduated from West Philadelphia Catholic HS for Boys in 1962 and went on to graduate from LaSalle University with a BA in Literature in 1966. He graduated with a Masters Degree in Elementary Education and Theater from Temple University in 1972. Dan was a classically trained baritone, having studied under Lester Englander. He sang with the Gilbert and Sullivan Players and The Savoy Company under the direction of Dan Rothermel from 1979 until 1987 where he was in the chorus of many of their productions. Dan performed with many singers in concert both in Philadelphia and New York, including Beverly Sills. Dan was an elementary school teacher with the Southeast Delco School District for 35 years and taught many grades as well as gifted students but his favorite age was 4th graders as they got his humor. Dan was loved by many of his students because he enjoyed adding humor and games to his classroom. Dan retired in 2003 and moved into William Penn House in 2004. He was elected to the Coop Board in May 2008 and served one year as Vice President and 8 1/2 years as Board President before stepping down in November 2019. Dan had a love of books (particularly mysteries), old movies and musicals from the golden age of Broadway. His library contained many volumes about movies and theatre and he could talk knowledgeably and endlessly on the subject. Dan had always been an armchair traveler and was satisfied exploring the world via Google Earth until he went on his first cruise in January 2011 from New York to Los Angeles aboard the Queen Victoria. Before the cruise he read all about the Panama Canal and went to every lecture aboard the ship in order to learn as much as he could. He was simply fascinated and immediately hooked on travel! Later trips included the West Coast, London (twice), Barcelona and other Spanish ports, as well as a cruise around the North Sea visiting many of the Scandinavian capitals. A cruise to Venice had been postponed since May 2019 due to the passing of his close friend and former partner, Stephen Lynch, and COVID-19. Dan is preceded in death by his parents, Frances J. Coyle and Catherine (Egert) Coyle, and twin sisters Linda and Patricia. He is survived by his younger brothers James H. Coyle and John J. (Jack) Coyle, Jack’s wife, Denise, and their five sons: Daniel, John, Kevin, Nicholas, and Patrick. He was a huge influence in his nephews’ lives mostly using humor and games, Dan had scores of friends near and far. A life celebration will be held on Wednesday, September 29, 2021, which would have been Dan’s 77th birthday. The celebration will be held at 5:30PM at the William Way LGBT Community Center, 1315 Spruce Street in Philadelphia.  Email to CelebrateDan@outlook.com to RSVP for the event and receive updates.