Daniel M. McHale Sr.

Daniel McHale, Sr. a longtime resident of Chatham, passed away on Friday, December 15, 2023, at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer.
Dan was born to John Patrick and Irene McHale in Providence, Rhode Island on Saturday, October 21, 1950. He was the 9th of 11 children. In 1955 his family moved to Jamaica, New York where he attended St. Joseph School and graduated from Christ the King School in 1964.
Dan attended Brooklyn Prep for high school and had a successful basketball career. He was recruited by many colleges to play basketball, but ultimately chose the United States Naval Academy where he earned a basketball scholarship.
Upon graduation of the Naval Academy on June 6, 1973, he was commissioned a 2LT in the U.S. Marine Corps, attended Officers' Basic School in Quantico, VA, and then flight school in Pensacola, Florida. Dan received his Bombardier/Navigator wings in 1974 and reported to Cherry Point, NC where he was a crew member on an A-6E two-seat jet. Dan left the Marine Corps in 1978 as a Captain.
Dan worked in the Aerospace defense industry for a long time and transitioned to a successful career in Banking. He retired from Rabobank as a Senior Vice President in charge of administration and infrastructure.
Dan was a devout Catholic who loved spending time with his family. He was passionate in rooting for his favorite sports teams; including Navy, the Mets, the Giants, and any NCAA basketball team his namesake was coaching. He loved spending his summers in his home on Little Sebago Lake in Maine. Dan was an avid reader, a lover of history and a former marathon runner. You could often find Dan on the golf course or attending his grandchildrens' sporting and school events.
Dan instilled in his children and grandchildren that "you can accomplish anything if you put your heart into it". You would often hear him say "Close enough is good enough".
Dan was the beloved husband of Nancy (Robitaille) McHale, loving father to Jennifer McHale Smith (David), Daniel McHale, Jr. (Jackie Hering), Emily Wurdemann (Brian), Allyson Carpenter (Russell Schilp), Lauren Franc (Eric) and Megan Regit (JP), an He was a devoted grandfather to 15 grandchildren, Ava Smith; Lilly, Daniel and Molly McHale; Olivia, Patrick, Brady and Amelia Wurdemann; Claire and Ben Gootman; Mckenah Schilp; Bradley and Luke Franc; and Nathaniel and Nolan Regit. He is survived by his wonderful sisters, brothers, sister and brother in-laws and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
***Dan's Funeral Mass will be live streamed on Wednesday morning. Click on the link below to view.
https://www.youtube.com/@st.patrickparishchatham5555/streams