Daniel James O'Leary

Daniel James O’Leary was born at Doctor’s Hospital in San Jose, California on July 28, 1956. He was the eldest son of James Richard O’Leary and Melba Joy (Stewart) O’Leary, and older brother to David Richard O’Leary.

Dan primarily grew up in the South Bay, attending elementary and middle school in Lawndale and Hawthorne. He graduated from Leuzinger High School in 1974, earned an AA from El Camino College, and eventually a bachelor's degree from American InterContinental University (AIU).

Dan met his wife Darla (Erickson) O’Leary in 1978, when he was 21 and she just 17. They married on April 18, 1980 in Redondo Beach, California. They lived in the South Bay and Moreno Valley, and moved to Mission Viejo in 1994. They were married for 45 years and had two amazing children, Nathan O’Leary (married to Jackie Mills O'Leary) and Jessica O’Leary Banes (married to Michael Banes) and eventually five beautiful grandchildren (Andrew, Emma, Norah, Sadie, and Hazel).

Dan was an incredible hard worker who worked many fun and interesting jobs (including a clown and magician at Lion Country Safari) before he was hired by McDonnell Douglas (eventually Boeing) in 1978. He was a dedicated and faithful employee there for 43 years, until chronic illness prevented him from continuing his work.

Dan fought his illnesses for nearly 40 years, with the last 15 years being a valiant fight against the ravages of Parkinson’s and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis. His doctors all marveled at his remarkable ability to recover from numerous setbacks and hospitalizations. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.