Daniel Furniss

Daniel John Furniss 1951 - 2010 Tribute to A Beatles Fan - All You Need. . . Dan Furniss loved. He loved his family. He loved the law. He loved soccer. He loved a party. And he really, really loved to talk. Blessed with a masterful gift of gab, he could capture an audience with a single sentence, and keep them hanging on every word. Unfortunately, a heart attack silenced him forever in the early morning hours of Friday, February 5, 2010. Dan was born July 22, 1951 in New Jersey to John and Eileen Furniss (both deceased). In 1962, his family moved to California where he spent the remainder of his life. He graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose in 1969. Just after graduation, he won first place in extemporaneous speaking at the prestigious National Forensic League competition. He graduated from Stanford University with honors in Political Science in 1973, and received his J.D. from Boalt Law School at the University of California, Berkeley in 1976. During law school, he served as co-chair of the Moot Court Board, and was a finalist in the McBane Moot Court Competition. Dan was hopelessly devoted to his family and children. Dan and Holly Nash met in 1977 while they both worked for the County of San Mateo. They married in 1978 and recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a wonderful party. Dan is survived by his wife Holly Nash, and three children of whom he was immensely proud, Anna, Laura and Christopher; brother Michael Furniss, wife Kerima, nephew Liam, and niece Megan; sister Dianne Bailey, husband Bruce, nephew Nick, and niece Yvonne; and sister Ellen Roeckl, husband Chris, nephew Adam, and niece Erin; brother-in-law Jim Nash, wife Anne, nephew Kenneth Caston and niece Jennifer Farkas; and mother-in-law Rita Nash. Fiercely loyal to his family and his friends, Dan was a constant ally to those he held dear. Dan loved the law. One of the founders of the law firm of Khourie, Crew & Jaeger, Dan joined Townsend & Townsend & Crew in 1993 when the two law firms merged. In 2006, Dan was inducted as a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor bestowed upon only the most gifted trial attorneys in North America (membership can never be more than 1% of the total lawyer population of any state or province). While he represented large and successful businesses from all over the world, Dan never lost his commitment to the underrepresented. In all things, Dan retained the sense of justice and fair play he cultivated as a young lawyer in the San Mateo County District Attorney''s office and embodied those values throughout his professional career. Dan loved soccer. Though a formidable opponent in the courtroom, Dan spent his free time coaching childrens soccer teams and refereeing games. He often spent evenings and weekends striping fields and filling gopher holes on Hillsborough''s youth soccer fields. Besides acting as Fields Commissioner, Dan served on the Hillsborough School Board of Trustees for 12 years, from 1993 to 2005, including two terms as President of the Board. Dan loved a good party. He was most in his element when socializing. In the days since his death, his friends and family commented more than once that Dan would have loved the food and the company gathered because of his passing. It was his specific wish that if he passed, we should celebrate his life and not just mourn his death. Dan lived intensely. He loved intensely, laughed intensely, worked intensely, played intensely, and spoke intensely. He even sneezed intensely. True to form, he died intensely, and so quickly. He will be missed but never, ever forgotten. He will live on in our hearts, minds, courtrooms, soccer fields, parties and conversations. Though he''s not here, if we want to be with him again, all we need is love. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, February 10, 2010, 2:00 p.m. at Stanford Memorial Church. Reception to follow at the Stanford Faculty Club. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Daniel J. Furniss Scholarship Fund at Stanford University.