Daniel CURTIS

CURTIS, Daniel Behrens, age 77, of Tampa, FL, passed away January 7, 2014. Dan was born February 15, 1936 in Syracuse, NY to Fred and Lois Curtis of Tampa, FL. He grew up in Tampa, graduating from Hillsborough High School in 1953. In 1958 he then graduated from Georgia Institute of Technology with an architectural degree. Mr. Curtis received additional degrees throughout his life, including U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, with honors, U.S. Air Force War College and a Masters in International Studies from the University of South Florida. Dan was an active duty member of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He also served in the Florida National Guard and in the U.S. Army Reserve Program retiring in 1989 at the rank of Colonel. Since 1960 Dan has been a Certified General Contractor, a Bank Founder and Director and a Real Estate Developer and Investor in the Tampa Bay area and the Caribbean. Mr. Curtis' community contributions include; chairing multiple Mayoral committees, past Chairman of Barrio Latino, past Chairman of The Kennedy Boulevard Council, past Chairman of the Tampa Chapter of The American Cancer Society and past Florida Chairman of The Society of International Business Fellows. Additionally he was a life-long member of St. Andrews Episcopal Church; serving as Junior Warden and Foundation President, an active member and past Director of Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club, and has been active in the Tampa Community Foundation and the Tampa Bay History Center. Dan Curtis was a life long world class stamp collector, earning numerous awards and recognition for his collection and his revenue census work. He was a long time member of the American Philatelic Society, the U.S. Philatelic Classics Society and the American Revenue Association. At the time of his death he was a trustee of the Philatelic Foundation and serving on the Smithsonian National Postal Museum's Council of Philatelists. Dan was also an avid tennis player, a hiker, and a professional level duplicate Bridge player. Dan was predeceased by his first wife Marguerite Player Curtis. He is Survived by their two children, son William P. (Stacy) Curtis and their children, Katherine, Daniel and Caroline, and son Robert T. (Laurie) Curtis and their children, Robert "Tucker", Samuel, Zechariah, Martha Grace and Charles. He is also survived by his wife Olivia Christine Curtis and her three children, daughter Michele (David) Herlong and their children Michael, Sarah and Rachel, daughter Karen Blanton and her children Kate, Stephen (great-grandson August) and Stephanie, and daughter Dana (Tim) Cornelius and their children Matthew and Olivia. Other survivors include his brother, William E. (Nancy) Curtis and his cousins James and Rick Ruyle. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 11, 2014 at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 509 E. Twiggs Street, Tampa, FL 33602 with a reception to follow at Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, 1601 S. MacDill Avenue, Tampa, FL 33629 In lieu of flowers. donations can be made in the name of Dan Curtis to the Community Foundation, 550 N. Reo Street, Suite 301, Tampa, FL 33609.