Daniel LaLonde

Daniel Joseph LaLonde, 72, passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully, at his home on April 14, 2026. Dan was born in Mount Clemens, Michigan on October 31, 1953, to Joseph O. LaLonde and Veronica LaLonde (née Bauer). He was the eighth of eleven siblings, including Ann (Tom) Herrmann, the late Suzanne (Larry) Larabell, JoAnn (the late Bill) Morandini, Timothy (Beatrice) LaLonde, Bernadette (the late Bruce) Tayler, Peggy (John) Vandenbossche, the late James (Kathy) LaLonde, John Paul (Milissa) LaLonde, Mary Bellore, and Joseph (Julie) LaLonde.

Dan is survived by his loving wife Cynthia, with whom he shared 30 years of marriage. Together they built and managed LaLonde Jewelers & Gemologists, proudly serving the Grosse Pointe communities for over thirty years. In addition, he is survived by many nieces and nephews.

A graduate of Holy Cross High School, Dan excelled in basketball and football. He went on to earn a vocational degree from Hobart School of Welding and pursued courses at Michigan Institute of Technology before discovering his true passion for diamonds and gemstones. In 1979, he completed the prestigious Graduate Gemologist program at the Gemological Institute of America, in-residence campus. He then founded Honolulu Gem Lab in Hawaii, regularly traveling to California and Alaska to perform work for banks and trusts. He quickly became one of the islands’ most respected gemologists.

Dan returned to Michigan in the mid-1990s, where he met Cynthia. The two soon joined forces to create LaLonde Jewelers. Over his 47-year career, he completed nearly 17,000 appraisals…an extraordinary number that few gemologists ever approach.

Deeply devoted to the Grosse Pointe communities, Dan served for many years as President of the Hill Association. He loved boating on Lake St. Clair and was an active member of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. One of his proudest accomplishments was receiving the “Excellence in Business” award from the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce.

Dan was a masterful storyteller who could hold any room spellbound with tales from his adventures. He shared many of those experiences through his popular bi-weekly email newsletter, “The Gem Expert,” which he published for over two hundred issues. His quick wit and sly sense of humor were infectious. Above all, he will be remembered as a genuinely kind man who was always ready to help someone in need. He leaves behind a wide circle of friends who will miss him dearly.

Visitation will be held at A.H. Peters Funeral Home on Friday, April 17th, from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. a funeral Mass will be held Saturday, April 18th, at St. Paul on the Lake in Grosse Pointe. Instate at 9:30am with service beginning at 10:00am. Dan will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery in Clinton Township.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Grosse Pointe Animal Adoption Society or The Helm at the Boll Life Center.

Please visit the A.H. Peters website for additional details and updates.