Daniel Joseph Freitas

Daniel Joseph Freitas July 8, 1956 - October 19, 2008 Daniel J. "Dan" Freitas, 52, of San Francisco died suddenly Sunday, October 19, 2008 at St. Mary's Medical Center. The cause of Dan's death was cardiac arrest while suffering a case of the flu. Dan was born July 8, 1956 in Willows, CA, to Vernon and Lucille Freitas. Raised in Orland, CA, he was a 1974 graduate of Orland High School. Upon graduation, Dan attended Butte Community College. During high school, Dan worked at Holiday Market and continued his employment there until 1987. Dan then went to work for Country Market until 1994. In 1995, Dan returned to college to complete his education. He graduated in 1998 from California State University, Chico with a bachelor of arts in physical education, emphasis on exercise physiology. In 1999, Dan began the UCSF/SFSU graduate program in physical therapy graduating in 2001 with a master of science in physical therapy. He then began practice in the Ben Berman Outpatient Rehabilitation Center at St. Mary's Medical Center, ultimately serving as the clinic's supervisor. Dan also practiced lymphedema therapy there. His patients benefited from Dan's kind and gentle care. On May 16, 1987 Dan married Debbie Beigh, also of Orland. Dan and Debbie had 21 years of fun times together attending baseball games, traveling, enjoying good food and wine and the company of friends and family. "Debbiedan" shared many inside jokes and laughs. A sports enthusiast, Dan was a SF Giants and Oakland Raiders fan. He was a voracious reader who loved films and music, especially jazz. Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk were his favorites. Dan was a practical joker with a fabulous sense of humor. He was extremely intelligent. A "big-worded guy," Dan scored near-perfect on the verbal section of the Graduate Record Exam, missing only one question. Friends said that Dan would be their "phone-a-friend" if they ever got selected for a television game-show. Dan once joked, "I know a little bit about a lot of things." Dan is survived by his wife, Debbie, of San Francisco; and his parents, Vic and Lucille Freitas, of Orland. Dan was preceded in death by his brother Michael and sister Carol. Dan leaves his aunt, Bertha Taresh (Gene) of Woodland, CA; uncle," Albert Freitas of Merced, CA; and mother-in-law, Susan Beigh, of Orland; as well as numerous friends and relatives. Dan was a long-time apheresis donor. According to Blood Centers of the Pacific, he helped save 27 lives. At the end, Dan was also an organ and tissue donor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mary's Medical Center Foundation in memory of Dan Freitas, 450 Stanyan St, SF, CA 94117. Donations will be used to fund a Lymphedema Program, assisting patients with financial hardships with supplies and services. Friends and family are invited to celebrate Dan's life at a Memorial service to be held on Saturday, November 1, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at the Acme Chophouse, 24 Willie Mays Plaza, SF (at AT&T Ballpark).