Obituary for Daniel Pace Our father, Daniel G. Pace, of Voorhees, NJ, passed away early in the morning on June 24, 2018 after a valiant, as well as stubborn, fight with cardiac disease. It was in his sleep that he left us, at the age of 70, with my brother and I (also asleep) in the next room. Born on July 6, 1947 in Yonkers, NY, he was an only child to Joseph and Sally Pace.
They raised him in Spring Valley, NY where he made lifelong friends and started his love affair with the New York Yankees. He was spoiled but disciplined, nurtured (and possibly coddled by our grandmother) but taught the importance of hard work; most importantly, he was loved, more than he probably realized. Education was important yet there was a smooth elegance in how he incorporated fun into the equation.
My brother and I found letters he sent to his parents during his first few months at Ricker College in Maine – they made me laugh through my tears. He wrote about his class schedule, the weather, earning his way onto the basketball team, fraternities he wanted to pledge (as long as it wouldn’t interfere with his studies), and cookies he wanted his mother to send. He also wrote about transferring to another college, and ultimately his choice was C.W. Post of Long Island University.
He pledged the SAE fraternity and met “brothers” whose friendship he kept all his life. He earned a BS degree in Biology followed by his M.P.S. degree in Health Care Administration. But before we go into his extensive career, a quick story on how our parents met.
Take our dad’s childhood friend from Spring Valley, add in a great friend of his girlfriend from Michigan, whip up a blind date in Washington, DC, and voila! Dan, meet Cindy. After dating for a little over a year they married and raised our family over the next 25 years.
Although the marriage dissolved, wonderful memories and experiences were made which will never be forgotten. Going back to our father’s career in health care, it began with the New York State Health Department and then into hospital administration. That career choice led him all across the country.
From New York to Michigan and back East to the Bronx. Kansas was the next step where he dedicated ten years to a hospital in Wichita and gained another band of lifelong friends. On to Washington state, then New Jersey, from there Nantucket and finally, Iowa.
He retired in New York but eventually made the decision to move one last time – back down to New Jersey to be closer to myself, my brother and his grandchildren. He was so looking forward to enjoying his new life in New Jersey with us but, unfortunately, his body wouldn’t let him. The attention and care he received from his physicians and the outstanding staff at Cooper University Health Care was unparalleled.
Then the sensitivity and support from Compassionate Care Hospice enabled our dad to leave with comfort and dignity. We thank you all for your devotion, patience and support. Our dad is survived by his loving children, Caroline Pace and Daniel (Tammi) Pace, and his grandchildren Vance and Wyatt Pace.
We would like for him to be remembered for his deep love of his family and friends, the foods he enjoyed (pasta), the Yankees and golf. We know he’ll be missed by his childhood friends, his friends from high school and college, the River Rats and us, his family. Relatives and friends are invited to the visitation on Saturday, 7/14/18, at 10:00 a.m. at Bradley Funeral Home, Evesham Road and Route 73, Marlton, NJ.
The memorial service follow at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations in memory of Daniel G. Pace may be made to Cooper University Health Care at foundation. cooperhealth.org/give-now or Compassionate Care Hospice at www.
cchfoundation.net.
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