Daniel Joseph Addario

Dan lived a full and remarkable life. After serving his country during the Korean War, he began his law enforcement career as a "beat" cop in Philadelphia before advancing to Special Investigations Detective with the Philadelphia Police Department. His career then took him to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where he served as Special Agent in Charge in multiple locations, including Philadelphia, San Francisco, New York, South America, and Thailand. He concluded his distinguished career as Chief Investigator with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office. Dan and his wife, Donna, eventually retired to New Bern, where Dan fulfilled a lifelong dream by cowriting and publishing his autobiography, Chasing the Dragon, which chronicled his career in the fight against illegal drugs.

Dan is survived by his wife, Donna; his son, Mark; and his granddaughter, Erin. He was predeceased by his parents and his sons, Daniel Jr. and Robert.

Dan had a passion for tending to his vegetables and herbs, often with a dog by his side. He was a dedicated Fox News viewer and enjoyed sharing his thoughts on how to address the challenges facing the nation. Dan’s final day on this earth was spent watching his beloved Eagles win a spot to compete in this year’s Super Bowl and he was thrilled. His lifelong dedication continued to be the drug crisis and he was unwavering in his hope that the war on drugs would ultimately be won.

In keeping with the family’s wishes, a funeral service will not be held. Those wishing to honor Dan’s memory may make a donation to Samaritan’s Purse, Tunnel to Towers or your local animal shelter.

Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Addario family.