Daniel Sa

Daniel Sa, our beloved husband, father, brother, son and friend, tragically left us on November 19, 2024. Loved and missed by his wife Phyllis, his daughters, Julia and Ella, his parents, Chung-yeh and Rey, and his younger brother, James.

Dan described himself as an enigma, but those who were lucky enough to know him can attest he contained multitudes. Outwardly coming across as quiet and serious, he burned brightly below the surface with curiosity and strong opinions, and he missed very little with his keen observations. Once his interest was piqued or some deeply held stance was challenged, Dan enjoyed engaging in spirited discussion, usually with a dash of his signature sarcastic wit. His interests ranged from video games and board games to basketball and pop culture, and he enthusiastically shared these interests with those in his orbit. Music was a constant touchstone for him. A gifted lifelong musician, he often dabbled in teaching himself to play his favorite songs on guitar or piano, making it look easy, and always had a curated Spotify playlist ready to go, whether it was for a get-together or just making Sunday brunch.

For someone who claimed he didn’t particularly like people, Dan had an astonishingly deep well of care, kindness, and empathy. Reliable and loyal, he gave freely without asking for anything in return, always willing to be there for the people he cared about. He brought an irreplaceable warmth and silliness to his closest relationships, and it was a delight to see him share these sides of himself more openly over the years.

But what brought him the greatest joy was his family – his high school sweetheart, Phyllis, was the love of his life, and his daughters, Julia and Ella, were his very heart. Through 21 years together of dating, marriage, and parenthood, Dan exemplified what it meant to be a partner and protector. His priority was always his girls, and the loss of his presence will be keenly felt for the rest of their lives.

Dan will also be greatly missed by the many friends, family, and co-workers who made up the foundational communities he belonged to over the years – from childhood and Oasis, CCF / Michigan, to Illumina, Verogen, and newer friends in San Diego. To commemorate Dan, a celebration of life will be held in San Diego on Saturday, January 11, time and location to be shared soon. We welcome all who knew him to join us in remembering the life of a man who was so deeply loved.

—-

In lieu of flowers, Phyllis has requested that friends and family consider donating to one of the organizations listed below. Dan was a passionate supporter of nonprofits that sought to make the world a better and fairer place. A donation in his memory to ones he personally supported (*) would be particularly meaningful. Please let this be a call to all of us to check in on the mental health of those we love, or to reach out to someone if you need support:

Asian Mental Health Project

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

ACLU*

ProPublica*