Edward Lee "Ed" Dato

Edward "Ed" Lee Dato died peacefully in Austin, Texas at Belmont Village Westlake on September 3, 2022. His granddaughter, Aniston, was at his side. Ed was born on February 17, 1944, in Kansas City, Missouri. His parents, Betty Ruth (Anderson) Dato and Joe Edward Dato preceded him in death as did his beloved grandparents, Josephine Bertha (McLaren) Dato and Edward Lee Dato, Ed's namesake. Survivors include his former wives, Elandra Bialolenki Weinberg and Barry Rogers Gray, his sister, Marilyn Jo (Dato) Jennings and his daughters, Daria Sherene Dato, and Cami Joelle Dato-Williams (Damon). Ed cherished his grandchildren: Jenna Dato Miller (Nathan), Aniston MacLaren Zabawa, Preston Edward Zabawa, and Braeden Colin Williams. Other survivors include four great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, and hundreds of friends all over the world. Ed graduated from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas in 1966 with a degree in Music Education, although his involvement with music began years earlier. Ed started piano lessons at age four when he played his sister's music but played by ear rather than written music! So began a lifelong association with playing piano, singing, arranging music, accompanying choruses, and directing his beloved Bohemian Club's "Don't Give Up Your Day Job" chorus. He sang with the San Francisco Yacht Club chorus for four years. He arranged music for the Illumine Youth Choir in Austin. It is impossible to list all the gifts of music to friends, associates, and audiences who enjoyed his work. Ed's professional life was in the technology field. He worked for several computer companies and, with partner Andy Anderson, founded Data Recognition Inc. in Austin, where his motto was, "The answer is Yes." Ed believed that with creativity, dedication, hard work, and integrity all things were possible. Ed cared deeply for his daughters, teaching skills, taking care of business, and adding a hearty dose of fun. He bought his first boat fifty years ago and taught his daughters to water ski and to drive and dock the boat. From the State Fair of Texas to tubing the Comal, from serious conversations about life to practical matters like snow tires, he tirelessly introduced the world to his two girls, who had a lovely time learning. Arrangements by Green Cremations in Austin. Memorial services for the family will be held later. In lieu of flowers, please make a gift in Ed's memory to one of the following: Belmont Village Westlake (Ed's "God's angels"), 4310 Bee Caves Road, Austin, TX 7846 with a memo "Employees Christmas Fund 2022", Illumine Youth Choirs, https://givebutter.com/eddato, or Austin Partners in Education for funding musical instruments for economically disadvantaged students at Lively Middle School. Gifts may be made at https://donorbox.org/edward-l-dato-memorial-fund or by check with "Edward L. Dato Memorial Fund" in the memo. Mail to Austin Ed Fund, 4000 S IH 35, Austin, Texas 78704. Ed's passing leaves a huge hole in the hearts of all who loved and appreciated him. Remember his words on Caring Bridge, "May we all remember that there is love and only love and the rest of it is a useless lie of separation. Aloha dear friends."