He was 97.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Shofar (nee Cristian), older sister, Eleanor Carge, and younger brother, Michael Shofar.
Dan was born April 3, 1927, in Cleveland, to the late Ana Sofariu (nee Popa) and Dan Sofariu.
In 1936, at the age of 9, Dan’s mother took him to Oltet, Romania, for a visit. Caught there when World War II erupted, Dan lived in Oltet for 10 years, returning to the U.S. at the age of 19. He was immediately drafted in the U.S. Army and after he was discharged, he continued to serve in the Army Reserves and became a longtime member of American Legion Post 703.
Dan met the love his life and wife of 70 years, Anna, in 1948. They joined St. Helena’s Romanian Byzantine Catholic Church in Cleveland that year, where they remained devoted active members throughout their lives.
They got engaged in 1949 and, due to Dan being called away to duty for the U.S. military, had a last-minute wedding Aug. 27, 1950.
Dan served at the end of WWII and in the Korean War and was discharged in 1952. He and his wife lived on a military base in New Jersey for two years before moving back to Cleveland’s westside and sharing a house off Clifton Boulevard with Anna’s parents.
While in Romania, Dan attended technical school and became a trained electrician. He worked as a lineman for The Illuminating Company for 34 years.
Known for his natural tenor singing voice, Dan became cantor for St. Helena Church in 1952 — a position he held for more than 68 years.
He and Anna had a son, Nick (Nellie) Shofar, and daughter, Ginny (Mark) Messina in 1953 and 1955, respectively. They bought a house in Parma Heights in 1956, where they lived for 61 years before moving into a nearby assisted living residence in 2017.
Among many talents, Dan was a creative woodworker, carving the Troita that stands in front of St. Helena Church in memory of his time spent in Romania.
He also taught dances he learned while in Romania to the Sezatoarea Romanian dance group, of which he and Anna became original members in 1957.
Dan loved to garden, cook, woodwork, travel with his wife, volunteer at the church and American Legion, and spend time with his cherished family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
While at Holy Family Hospice, where he moved to in December of 2022, he became an avid harmonica player, often attracting passersby to his room to listen to him play.
In addition to being the beloved husband of Anna and loving father to Nick and Ginny, Dan was a devoted grandfather to Cristian (Rebecca) Shofar, Cassandra Shofar, Taylor (Adam) Wallace and Taryn (Jeff) Petruska; and great-grandfather of Olivia Shofar and Parker Wallace.
On behalf of Dan, his family extends its deepest gratitude for the nurses and caregivers at Holy Family Hospice, who became like family and provided him with the utmost care.
Funeral Service Saturday February 1st at St Helena Byzantine Catholic Church 1367 West 65th St at 10 AM
Interment Holy Cross Cemetery
Family will receive friends in the Craciun Funeral Home 14925 East Bagley Road Middleburg Hts on Friday from 4-8 PM
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Holy Family Hospice (Parma) or St.
Helena’s Church (Cleveland).
