Daniel O'Rawe

Daniel Patrick O'Rawe Jr., 89 died on February 21, 2026 at his home surrounded by family.

Dan was born on June 3, 1936, in Verona, New Jersey to Daniel O'Rawe and Mary McHenry O'Rawe, both from County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Dan was devoted husband to Dorothy O'Rawe for 64 years and loving father to Kathleen, Timothy, Daniel and grandfather to Liam, Aiden, Molly, Shannon, Erin, Patrick, and loving pet owner to his favorite dog Bernie.

Dan was a Half Century and Life Member of the PGA (Professional Golfers Association). He grew up on a golf course where his father was the gardener and where he fell in love with the game. He helped his dad on the course and when he was 10 years old he was thrilled he could start caddying for .25 cents a day. He graduated from Verona High School in Verona, New Jersey where he was a member and Captain of the golf team.

After marrying Dorothy Byrnes on June 24, 1961, they started their family while he worked as an assistant golf pro at Hackensack Golf Club in New Jersey. During the winter months, they traveled as a family in a camper while Dan played on the Florida tour.

In 1965, he became the first Head Golf Pro at Packanack Golf Club in Wayne, New Jersey. He then went on to become a salesman for E.J. Manley Golf Wear company and worked his way up to become President where he created an innovative, successful company.

Out of their love for the game and desire to contribute, Dan and Dorothy started two successful charity golf tournaments, for Pope John XXIII High School in Sparta, NJ and for Growing Together in Lake Worth, Florida where they brought golf professionals and celebrities together for a good cause.

Dan and Dorothy enjoyed an active life together in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida then moved to Apex, North Carolina in his retirement where they enjoyed family and traveling. Not one to stay still too long Dan started spending the summers as a golf teacher at a camp in upstate New York for many years until he became the Women's Golf coach at Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He then started and coached a golf team at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic School in Apex, NC where his grandchildren Liam, Aiden, and Molly attended.

In his later years, Dan enjoyed spending time with his family, teaching private lessons, working in his yard and of course verbally offering tips to the pros when he watched the PGA tournaments on tv. Throughout his golf career he accomplished the feat of numerous "holes in one" of which he was very proud of.

His family and many students will remember this important lesson he always repeated... "a golf ball only touches the club for one two-hundredth of a second, remember that."

A funeral service will be held at 10 am Thursday, February 26, 2026 at Holy Name of Jesus Cathedral. Internment will follow at Oakwood Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy, his children, daughter Kathleen (Clabby) and son in law Tim Clabby, son Timothy O'Rawe, son Daniel O'Rawe and daughter-in-law Chung Yoe O'Rawe and grandchildren Liam, Aiden, and Molly Clabby and Shannon (Odom), Erin and Patrick O'Rawe.

He was preceded in death by his parents Daniel and Mary O'Rawe, his sisters Margaret Wheat and Rose Fletcher, his daughter in law Cathy O'Rawe and step grandson Travis Heidlinger.

The family wishes to thank the Transitions LifeCare nurses and staff who took care of him.

In Lieu of flowers, go out and enjoy a round of golf and think of Dan.