Obituary of Daniel John Haley

Daniel John Haley passed away unexpectedly on September 9, 2023. Born July 27, 1964 in Lawrence, MA, he traveled with his family to California in the summer of 1966, and spent his childhood in Sunnyvale, CA. He proudly received his Masters of Arts in English from Humboldt State, and wrote whenever time allowed. We know what a dramatic character Dan was because being a thespian was one of his favorite activities. In addition to drama, Dan loved history and literature, leading him into his long career as an English teacher, most notably at San Jose City College. While his prickly nature also made him seem unapproachable, those people who persevered and made it into his circle of friends found a man with a heart of gold in their midst. He was fiercely loyal and kind, yet bluntly reminded us of reality when necessary. He loved great coffee and earthenware mugs; good food; urban myths; telling odd, yet crazy stories and then laughing about them or people’s reactions to them; and nature, particularly California’s rugged coastline and forested areas; Not everyone knew how much of an animal lover he was, but he had his rabbit, Boo, for almost 20 years and gave love to all animals, especially horses. He is survived by his sister Barbara Lenci (Steve), nephews Robert, David and Jonathan, and countless cousins and friends who will all miss him dearly. Dan’s passing was sudden, but he is not suffering any longer. If you would like to honor him, please join us in donating to caring for animals the way Dan wanted. American Humane (www.americanhumane.org) is an organization that focuses on animals’ safety and welfare in filmmaking but also emergency response and from farm animals to pets. Moreover, they have a strong connection with the conservation community across our nation. This seemed to be the best choice to honor him, so please make a donation in Dan Haley’s name if you are so inclined. Please join us Sunday, October 15th from 1-4pm at Blackberry Farms, Sycamore Group picnic area, 21979 San Fernando Avenue, Cupertino. Consider bringing a shareable food or drink that you shared with Dan in past interactions. We will gather to share photos, stories, and camaraderie as we celebrate Dan's life among us.