Daniel James McNamara

Dan McNamara suddenly passed away this December. Our Danny Boy left the earth much too soon for all of us who loved him. Dan enjoyed best spending time with good friends & his family. Whether it was out on the golf course (he got his 1st hole-in-one this November!); summer days spent with Patty & their many visitors at their lake cabin on Gold Lake; watching his grandsons' play sports; travel to his beloved Ireland and Alaska; raising a pint or enjoying some of his vast wine collection; telling or hearing a good joke; or just quietly reading his kindle. Dan's professional life in the commercial insurance industry also brought him great joy & tremendous success. His insurance career began in Minneapolis with the Nordstrom Agency. He then started his own brokerage firm, McNamara & Associates in Burlingame, California in 1980. He sold this company to Arthur J. Gallagher in 1990, becoming one of their most successful producers & part of a new kind of 'family'. Many of Dan's longtime colleagues & clients were more than that to him... they became dear friends. He just couldn't bring himself to retire, because as he said, "I've never had a day where I wasn't happy to go to work." Dan left behind Patty, his wife of 22 years; his son Tim & daughter-in-law, Tasha; his grandsons Aidan & Owen and Tim's mother, Alice. Also, his brother Tom & wife, Karen; brother Jerry & wife, Loretta; his 'Irish twin' brother, David & wife, Barbara; sister Mary & husband Dennis and sister Jane & husband Chuck. Plus a large family of adored nieces & nephews and cherished cousins and loved in-laws. He is preceded in death by his father, Leo Robert; his recently deceased 99 year old mother, Sarah Ann; and his daughter, Colleen. Dan was called away one day after the 32nd anniversary of his beloved daughters death. We can only pray that they were finally reunited and Dan's big Irish heart was overflowing with joy. Rest in peace sweet Danny Boy... we love you... we were blessed to have you in our lives... and we will always miss you. Donations can be made in memory of Dan and Colleen to the 'Daughters of Class of 1984 Alumnae' at Notre Dame High School Belmont, 1540 Ralston Avenue, Belmont, CA 94002. This fund directly benefits current students whose mothers were classmates of Colleen. (Donations are tax deductible.) (650)595-1913, www.ndhsb.org.