Daniel Riser

Daniel J. Riser
Aug 09, 1952 - Feb 27, 2016

Daniel Joseph Riser, 63, died on Feb. 27th at Mercy Hospital after an illness.

A longtime resident of Merced, he was born in Newman. His parents were Imelda "Dode" Murray Riser and Creed Dotson Riser, who was tragically killed in 1955 when Dan was still a child. His mother married John Patrick Gunn soon after, and they would have 2 more children together. They lived in the family home on 22nd St. in Merced, where Imelda lived until her death in 2013.

Daniel was the youngest of the Riser children. He attended Our Lady of Mercy from grade school through high school, graduating in 1970. He was Junior Class President and part of the drama club. He attended the University of San Francisco and later graduated from San Francisco State University in 1975 as an English major.

He held various jobs, including Credit Supervisor at Wells Fargo, and later at I. Magnin & Co. He worked locally at Merced College in the Office of Instruction, meticulously compiling the school's course schedule, and was an accomplished editor.

He enjoyed music and theater, researching and recording family history, and spearheading the planning of family reunions.

He had no children but had an abundance of family and friends who love and will miss him.

The world will be less without his compassion and humor. Donations can be made to the SPCA in his memory.