I first met Dan through his long-time companion, my stepbrother Lynn Howell, and soon became aware of his devotion to athletics and his deep knowledge about most things athletic.  Along with my wife, Susan, the four of us (and often the rest of the family) had many good times together, from Boston to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to the Yale Bowl. I was most grateful that Dan was very attentive to Lynn's needs when became ill and a bit demanding--Dan never wavered. I came to know Dan even more closely following Lynn's death through sharing his suffering. In time, he recovered and later developed a new relationship with Dwight, about which he spoke in glowing terms. I was pleased to again see him happy but, sadly, lost contact with him over the ensuing years. Susan and I were shocked to learn of his death from my niece, Suzanne McGarry several months ago. God bless you, Dan, and thanks for being a friend and taking such good care of Lynn.

Dan and I met in Birmingham many years ago.  We were both from Alabama and went to the University of Alabama.  We had a lot in common and in particular the love of Alabama football.  We kept in touch as we went our separate ways.  We would have long phone conversations that involved discussing personal crisis in our lives and of course, Alabama football.  It had been a while since I had talked to him.  I saw a notice of his death in an University of Alabama publication and was deeply saddened.  It is not easy losing such a good friend. 

Dan was a resident at the Life Care Center of Stonegate in Colorado along with my mother.

I remember Dan as being one of the kindest souls that I have ever met.  He always had a smile on his face and he was friendly to everyone he met.  Even after he left the facility,  he would send cards and flowers to my mother and that would always cheer her up.

I just found out today that Dan had passed and it broke my heart.

"Whom the God's love dies young"
--- Menendez

Thank you Dan for always being kind to my mother.. .

Dan was encouraging to me for 20+ years as a friend. He is already very missed, but missed by how many people? Only *God* knows.

In the most difficult time of my life -- when my *very* beloved mom had become unsafe to herself, even in my sister's home, where my sister and I had moved her due to what became severe Alzheimer's/dementia. Very painfully, the duty fell to me to somehow bring my sweet mom to the full-time care that she eventually needed. She had been unwittingly doing dangerous things in the kitchen and had become often able to get back inside when she let my sister's dog out during the day. After picking a beautiful caretaking facility where my sister or I would visit her daily for years, I had to bring mom and place her in it. We showed her around as she became more and more suspicious. Eventually, the staff surrounded her and took her away and even though they did so gently, she knew what was happening so it was to her screams of "Take me home! Take me home!" I am crying now as I think about it. 

Dan was the friend who got me through that time and took as much time on the phone as I needed through the shock and pain of all of the sadness, guilt, and horror of it all. At that early point in all of that, by the morning after bringing mom into her care facility, Dan had tracked down the place and had sent beautiful flowers for mom's new room. She loved Dan's flowers and the kind message that he had sent for her comfort. And she knew his name for he had looked up mom himself and called her on certain occasions in the past to check up on me. Mom would then call me and say things to me like, "I talked to that friend of yours from Colorado. He's so nice to me."

Thank you, Dan, for all of your thoughtfulness, your years of encouragement, your giving spirit, and your special voice.

One of Dan’s heroes was Coach Paul “Bear”Bryant, who once said, “If you want to get through the Pearly Gates of Gold...you must learn the password....ROLL TIDE ROLL!” We have no doubts that Dan knew the password!!! And when he cleared the gates there was an all star ensemble of the Alabama “Million Dollar Band” playing for him! In the words of Bunyan, “All the trumpets sounded on the other side”! Dan was a Giant and he leaves a Giant hole in our hearts. We will miss him greatly.

Dan was a great guy-worked with him for a bunch of years-we always had  laughs-never saw him have a cross word with anyone. i house sat for him & took care of the dogs Kroger & Kahuna as well as the cat Anwar. i last saw him a couple years ago & he filled me in on all the gossip (like always haha) what else can i say but that he was a kind and gentle soul     

Dan was a great member of my stats crews, both the Denver Broncos and at the University of Colorado!!!!  He always did a great job and was very professional in everything he did!!!!!  But  more than anything else, I always considered him a great friend!!!!  He always was cheerful and loved his teams, the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Colorado Buffaloes, and the Denver Broncos!!!!  He truly loved what he was doing!!!!  During January of 2020 he received the Gold-C award from the University of Colorado for his 30 years of service!!!!!  Roll Tide, Go Buffaloes, and Go Broncos!!!!

Such a special, fun, thoughtful person. Met him so many years ago when he was working on the UA football stats crew. He was working for Rich's in Atlanta, and he'd arrive in the Legion Field parking lot with a trunk full of items his friends had asked him to purchase for them using his store discount. . .In later years, when he visited Tuscaloosa, he would bring me the most thoughtful gifts, one that hangs on the wall in my living room. He and I shared a love for Broadway, and he'd gone to see Tommy Tune in a show. Post show, Tune was selling art he'd drawn, and one item was of an elephant (UA mascot-- I worked in athletics). Dan (he'll always be Danny to me) had Tommy Tune autograph it and personalize it to me "Just 4 Becky."...and I will always have great memories of how much fun it was to be with Danny, Chad, Cecil and Bruce, listening to their stories from college and life in general. And how I loved to hear when he'd call or come by and tell me (I always asked) where in the world he had been lately... He was so beloved by so many of us. I am at work and can't be at his service this afternoon, but I keep watching the clock, thinking of him. 

Dan worked on our football statistics crew at the University of Colorado since 1988; for 30  years of service, in 2019 he was awarded an "Honorary C" letter for those years of devotion to the school.   It was like CU was his second school after his beloved Alabama.

We will miss Dan, his constant smile and good nature.  

OBITUARY

Daniel Alford Riley Jr.

March 4, 1956 – May 6, 2021

Johns-Ridout's Mortuary-Elmwood Chapel & Elmwood Cemetery & Mausoleum

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