Daniel J. Curtin Jr.

Daniel J. Curtin, Jr. Resident of Walnut Creek Daniel J. Curtin, Jr. passed away suddenly on Nov. 30, 2006 from natural causes at 73. A native San Franciscan, Dan was raised in the Sunset district by Irish immigrant parents, Nell Lenihan and Daniel Curtin. He graduated from St. Joseph's College Seminary in Mt. View, and earned his A.B. and J.D. from the University of San Francisco. Dan served as a Second Lt. in the U.S. Army. Dan is survived by his younger sister Kathleen Curtin, a Sister of the Presentation of the BVM. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 46 years, Myrtle Rose. Dan was a devoted father of five children and nurturing grandfather of eight grandchildren: Katie Hon and her husband Jim, her children Brandy and Christine Damon; Mary Curtin and her husband Howard Goetz; Patricia Curtin-Tinley, her husband Frank, and their children Frank Jr. and Danny; Thomas Curtin, his wife Shawna, and their daughter Isabella; and Carol Goodfellow, her husband Jeff, and their children Joshua, Brianna, and Caitlyn. Dan also is survived by two aunts, Nora Fitzgerald and Mary Lenihan of Ireland, and many first cousins who reside in California, Ireland, Canada and England. Family was extremely important to Dan. He enjoyed taking his family on annual New Year's cruises and periodic trips to Ireland. Dan served as Assistant Secretary for the California State Senate, as Counsel to the Assembly Committee on Local Government, and Deputy City Attorney for Richmond. In 1965, Dan was appointed City Attorney of Walnut Creek, where he served until 1982. Dan then went into private practice with Williams, Caploe, Robbins & Curtin and then joined what is now Bingham McCutchen, LLP, where he practiced for over 20 years. Dan was widely regarded as the "Dean" of land use and local government law. Dan received countless honors and awards for his leadership and service, including the Jefferson Fordham Lifetime Achievement Award from the State and Local Government Law Section of the American Bar Association; the International Municipal Lawyers Association Charles S. Rhyne Award for Lifetime Achievement in Municipal Law; the American Planning Association's Distinguished Leadership Award, recognizing more than two decades of writing and teaching and his support for planning ideas and education; and an award from the California Park and Recreation Society for his contributions to parklands. Dan authored numerous major publications and was in constant demand as an educator and guest speaker. Visitation will be held at Hull's Walnut Creek Chapel, 1139 Saranap Ave, Walnut Creek on Thurs. Dec. 7, 2006 starting at 5PM followed by a Vigil at 7PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Mary Catholic Church, 2039 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Walnut Creek, on Fri. Dec. 8 at 10AM, followed by internment at Queen of Heaven Cemetery, Lafayette. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Missionary Sisters of the Eucharist, P.O. Box 88147, Houston, TX 77288 to assist in the education of the young Mayan Indian Community, or to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, P.O. Box 304, Maryknoll, NY 10545-0304. HULL'S WALNUT CREEK CHAPEL (925) 934-5400