Daniel Michael Radice

Dan passed away peacefully with family members around him on January 13, 2017 at his home in Sandy, Utah. Dan was born in Trenton, New Jersey on June 13, 1929 to Michael and Jennie Radice. Dan graduated from Trenton High School and later earned an associate’s degree in engineering from a technical college in Philadelphia, PA. He worked in the aerospace industry at Hercules in Magna, UT, where he earned several patents for designs used to build specific mandrel tooling equipment.

The Radices attended church at Cottonwood Presbyterian Church. Both Dan and Ginny were Deacons and part of the Cruisers couples group.

Dan married Virginia Ramus on October 13, 1951.

Dan was a dedicated husband and father. He also thoroughly enjoyed his hobby of building and flying model airplanes from free-flight models in the early 1950s to modern Radio Controlled R/C airplanes. He spent a lifetime fishing with family and friends. He derived great joy from playfully tormenting his son Michael on various fishing and hunting trips where only Boots Randolph music was allowed.

Dan introduced Tastykakes to the family. A snack cake best known on the east coast, this became a delicacy that everyone looked forward to whenever visiting extended family in New Jersey. Thanks to the internet, now there is a reserve supply available in everyone’s freezer.

Danny grew up in a multigenerational, traditional Italian family household in Trenton along with several uncles, his older brother and mother, and various cousins. His father was slain when Dan was only six weeks old. His brother, Michael Jr. serviced in the Navy in World War II. He was killed in action in the Pacific theater when a Kamikaze plane crashed into his gun turret. Dan proudly served in the National Guard.

Dan liked to incorporate his engineering skills into all of his home building projects. He liked to “over build” his projects. Wooden shelves destined to only hold canned goods were sturdy enough to hold a car. He built a structural support framework and bolted a winch into place now used as a dumb-waiter when unloading groceries from the car to take into the house.

Likewise, he could shift to the delicate and intricate building with his model airplanes or small furniture for his young granddaughter. As she grew he continued to help with larger items to help her pursue her interests and passions in the fashion and art world.

He had a very famous and often sought-after wine punch that he concocted for every Christmas Eve open house or family party. It was a mixture of wines and other secret ingredients and everyone went home happy after enjoying Dan’s Wine Punch.

Danny was always eager and willing to put aside whatever he might have been working on to help others, whether it was a special Christmas ornament that Ginny wanted to make for family and friends, or running errands for neighbors. Dan was eager to support his son Michael, for days on end while he recovered from a severe auto pedestrian accident he incurred while working on a story for the TV news.

He tried to make it to every school or sporting event that Michael was involved in whether it was little league baseball or high school football games. He supported Diane’s involvement in the International Order of Job’s Daughters and her nursing career. He proudly bragged about “his daughter the doctor” after she completed her doctorate degree in Nursing Practice.

Danny was a big teddy bear. He and Ginny loved having a dog to share their home. He always wanted to name a dog Sarge and finally there was a puppy worthy of the wish. Dan and Ginny enjoyed many pets during their 65 years together.

He was a New York Giants and Yankees fan through and through. Every weekend when the Giants played he was there, even if it was only in his comfortable chair watching from home. Dan and Michael watched his last Giants game together recently. They both enjoyed “manfood” of cheese dip, sardines and homemade cookies to toast his final game.

Dan is survived by his wife of 65 years, Ginny, furry child Holly, his two children Diane, (Bruce) Kendall, and Michael, (Tammy), and his granddaughter Sara, (Tawny).

There will be a Celebration of His Life open house Saturday, January 21 from 10:45 AM to 1:00 PM at Cottonwood Presbyterian Church, 1580 E. Vine Street. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a donation to either the American Heart Associate of Utah or the Utah Chapter of the American Cancer Society.