Daniel Gilbert Endy

Daniel Endy Obituary Endy, Daniel Gilbert
95, of Wayzata, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on February 16, 2025. Preceded in death by his parents, William Frederic and Mary Kathleen; sisters, Ann Teresita Pletcher, Virginia Endy McConnell, and infant brothers, David Francis, and William Frederic. Survived by his wife of 68 years, Jacquelyn; six children, Deborah (Jon) Secrest, Diane (Pat) Rohan, Daniel III (Kris), David (Ann), Donna (Ed) Weir and Dennis (Jenn); nine grandchildren, Kathryn Secrest, Dana and Andrea Rohan, Daniel IV and Maari Endy, Elizabeth and Emily Endy, James and Georgia Weir and three younger siblings, Mary Kathleen Vistenzo, William Frederic and David Floyd.
Born in Philadelphia on July 10, 1929, Dan spent much of his youth shuttling between Philadelphia and Stone Harbor, NJ. He was graduated from Lower Merion High School in 1947 and headed west to Californias Riverside College where he earned an associate degree in journalism in 1949. Upon graduation, he returned to Philadelphia and began working as a script writer for a close family friend at TelRa Productions. After a brief hiatus in Germany as a Postal Specialist in the U.S. Army (1951-52), he returned to the U.S. and TelRa, and in 1959 formed his own company, Cine-Sports, Inc.
Two years later he and a partner acquired the rights to film the 1962 NFL Championship game. The film they produced, Pro Footballs Longest Day, was lauded as both an artistic and financial success. Based on this the NFL decided to create their own film production company, and Dan and two partners were the original founders of NFL Films. Dan stayed with NFL Films through 1968 and during his tenure and under his leadership, the company pioneered many of the techniques still used today in sports broadcasting including slow motion, super-slow motion, cutaways, ground shots, aerial shots, and wireless microphones on players and coaches.
Tiring of the constant travel between Philadelphia and the NFL office in New York, Dan decided to head west in 1969 where he joined Sports, Films and Talents (SF&T) in Bloomington, Minnesota and produced highlight and recruiting films for the University of Minnesota, and other area professional teams. SF&T opened other doors in the Twin Cities sports community as well, including a 50-year stint as the unofficial defensive statistician for the Vikings on gamedays.
In the mid-1970s he was the executive producer for a new college football highlight show on ABC. He would film a college game in the Midwest, fly to Chicago with his footage and gather it with film from other key games across the country and spend all night editing and scripting a show for a Sunday morning broadcast. He also helped create the legend of "Benchwarmer Bob" Lurtsema, whose ads for Twin City Federal were staples of the Twin Cities airways for more than a dozen years.
In 1978 SF&T was purchased by Carlson Marketing Group to provide in house film and video production services for Carlson business units. In 1983 Dan and his partner, Mike Greene, purchased the SF&T assets back from Carlson and formed Promotivision, where they continued to produce projects for Gopher Athletics and other commercial/industrial, new product and training videos for many years. Dan retired from Promotivision in 2002 at the age of seventy-three.
Dan and Jackie would remain in Wayzata for 55 years. As the kids aged, graduated, and moved on with their lives, the two discovered the travel bug and over the course of 15 years, they traveled throughout Europe on scenic River cruises from England to Russia. Dan especially loved the breakfast buffets and became the travel correspondent. He never met a stranger, and no matter where they were across the globe, he found people and things of interest to share. His travelogues are family treasures.
Dan was a beloved member of the Minneapolis Golf Club for more than 54 years. He and the family formed endearing bonds with others gathered poolside and he accumulated a lengthy list of playing partners and friends during his half century at MGC. He was granted an honorary club membership in 2021, one of fewer than 20 the club has bestowed. The family greatly appreciates the efforts of Dans most recent playing partners for helping Dan enjoy his final rounds at MGC well into his nineties.
Dan was a proud father, a humble man, and a role model for being both. He made the time to be present at the milestone events. And, as proud a father as he was, he was perhaps even more proud as a grandfather. With a slowdown in his work schedule and subsequent retirement, he endeavored to be where the action was, in-town or out. He was never more than a phone call or text message away from his grandchildren with congratulations, well-wishes, or encouragement. To all in the family he was simply Poppa, and by all in the family he will be dearly missed.
Visitation 5-7:00 PM Thursday, April 24 at David Lee Funeral Home, 1220 E. Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata. Mass of Christian Burial 11:00 AM Friday, April 25 at St. Bartholomews Catholic Church, 630 E. Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata. Visitation also one hour prior to Mass at the church. Private Interment at Fort Snelling National Cemetery.
The family would especially like to thank Dans caregivers at Allina Hospice: Amber, Hannah, Naomi and "Mother Theresa," as well as Wokie and Christine from Synergy Healthcare for their compassion and commitment to Dans well-being. We are grateful for all that you did to make Dan comfortable throughout his final months.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation, 230 East Ohio Street, Ste 500, Chicago, IL, 60611 or online at, pulmonaryfibrosis.org.
The service will be live streamed. You can access it at this link. https://vimeo.com/event/4981263
Services
Visitation
Thursday
April 24, 2025
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
David Lee Funeral Chapel
1220 East Wayzata Blvd
Wayzata, MN 55391
Visitation
Friday
April 25, 2025
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church (Wayzata)
630 East Wayzata Blvd
Wayzata, MN 55391
Mass of Christian Burial
Friday
April 25, 2025
11:00 AM
St. Bartholomew Catholic Church (Wayzata)
630 East Wayzata Blvd
Wayzata, MN 55391 To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Daniel Gilbert Endy, please visit our Tree Store.