Daniel Joseph Moncino was born on September 13, 1923 in New York. His father, David, was an immigrant from Sicily, Italy and his mother, Millie, was a native New Yorker. Dan has a younger brother Bob, who still lives in New York.
He endured the Great Depression and helped his father with work when he wasn’t in school.
He was attending Polytechnic University in Brooklyn and was studying for a Bachelor’s degree in chemistry when he joined the army reserves. In June 1943, he was called to active duty while still in school.
Dan was drafted by the army in 1943 and joined the 14th Armored Division’s 125th Armored Combat Engineers. Dan served his country bravely by doing advance work, building roads and bridges while being shot at and bombed by the German army. He survived the Battle of the Bulge and his company captured over fifty thousand German prisoners, liberated 200,000 Allied prisoners, captured and destroyed over five hundred enemy tanks and one thousand enemy-held towns. Dan was transferred to Camp Cooke in California in 1945 to train for the invasion of Japan. He was on leave in New York, when Japan surrendered. He left the army in March of 1946.
He re-enrolled at Polytechnic University and graduated in June 1950. After graduation, Dan began working in the food research industry. He was quite the entrepreneur and in 1955, asked his company to send him back to California so he could help them expand the business. He was quite successful and stayed in California permanently.
Dan married Patricia Mauro in December 1955 and raised three children—Mark, Elaine, and Daniel Moncino, II.
Family has always been the core of Dan’s life. He spent a lot of time with his mother-in-law, Sue, and Pat’s sister, Barbara Shaw, and her family. Dan and Pat were involved in their local church, supported their children in their various hobbies and activities, and were volunteers in the community.
Unfortunately, in 1972, Pat died at the age of thirty-eight, leaving Dan to raise three young children on his own. As was Dan’s style, he did it without complaining and raised his children to be independent, competent, and adventurous adults.
Dan started his own company, La Monde, in 1988 which manufactured natural flavors and colors for food products. He enjoyed being his own boss and his business flourished.
In 1990, he met his soulmate, Mary Lou Williams. They were married in 1994 and thus began of some of the happiest days of his life. He continued to work at La Monde while also volunteering on the Mission Viejo Activities Committee.
The 90s was the decade of grandbabies! Dan had seven grandchildren, who are now all in college or have graduated from college. Dan and Mary Lou took many trips to visit their children and grandchildren across the country.
In the 2000s Dan continued to volunteer with MVAC, and started giving his time to local police services. Dan clocked over one thousand volunteer hours with police services. In fact, Dan won an award for the amount of graffiti he found and reported in the city.
Dan is survived by his wife, Mary Lou; his children, Mark, Elaine, and Daniel II; and his seven grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested a donation be made to St. Jude Children’s hospital.
To donate in Daniel’s honor, please select "Dedicate my donation” and use number 11316847.
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