We are humbled by the outpouring of admiration and storytelling from those of you that have loved Dan throughout different stages of his life. (Please post more tributes and stories on this website!). Out of respect for his innately contrarian nature, we will keep this post mildly sarcastic. He wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Dan's greatest and proudest accomplishments were his daughters, Alex and Gabriella, who (he always said) far outclassed him in intelligence and looks. The girls share his instinctive tendency to help others in need, which we believe all three inherited from Dan's parents, Frank and Rosemary. Alex and Gabriella are multilingual, while Dan struggled with English and Italian. He adored all things Chicago, a good argument, hanging out with his buddies at the neighborhood tap, gardening, home renovating, and the Chicago bungalow, while also appreciating Italian art and architecture.

As a child and young man, Dan distinguished himself by being laser-focused on the goal at hand and, undaunted by the challenges along the way, seemed to effortlessly grab the holy grail. The loving support of his parents, Gram, and Aunt Helen also protected and guided him in his early years. Dan grew up on the southwest side of Chicago, the second of five children. He spent his days zipping up and down the block with his brother Pat, the Riordan next-door siblings and other neighborhood pals, occasionally straying to the nearby train tracks to flatten a penny or catch a ride. In high school, Dan excelled in the classroom, in leadership programs, and in sports at Hinsdale South. He graduated as valedictorian in 1978. He went on to Stanford University, graduating with a degree in economics, acquiring fluency in Italian and a Florentine quintuplet of life-long friends. He also mastered the simple, but delicious, carbonara sauce, perfected while living in the Italian house at Stanford and the overseas campus in Florence.

Dan was a great adventurer, always brimming with curiosity. Dan's post-Stanford victory lap included a rainy and zig-zagging 5,000-mile journey across the United States. He made the trip with a crew of three new friends and acquired a life-altering talent for tire repairs, an endless supply of stories, and the revelation that he would always be happiest with nothing but what he could carry on his back. The victory lap was extended when he deferred law school - forever - and made his way back to the Italian Alps for a three-year ski adventure, I mean, job. In Italy, he ran a ski business with an Italian partner whom he'd met during his study abroad experience.

Eventually, Dan realized that California and Italy could not compete with the lure of the weather and landscapes of the Midwest. He returned to Chicago to settle into a career as a stock broker and family man, making many loyal friends along the way. He bought and renovated three homes. With a hammer, a paint brush, a 6-pack, and his charm, he lured his brother, Jim, and several good friends to willingly join him in spending their weekends tearing down walls and painting trim. He took great pride in being able to see through the grit and spot a good investment property.

Friends reading this will agree that Dan was a multi-faceted man of many contradictions: whip smart and ALWAYS right; kind of serious, but also hilarious; extremely competitive, yet very laid back; politically conservative, yet open-minded, curious and accepting of others' beliefs and lifestyles; intrigued by wealth management, yet entirely unmaterialistic and frugal. He was loyal to a fault and kind to the core, but cranky as all get out. He had a brilliant, analytical – and sometimes argumentative – mind, and was simultaneously generous in thought and spirit. With a crooked smile and his mischievous humor, he told jokes that sometimes confused his audience and often embarrassed his children. He always had a twinkle in his eye and will be greatly missed.

In addition to daughters Alex and Gabriella, he is survived by his parents, Frank and Rosemary, his siblings, Pat (Kathy), Mary Therese (Marco), Marianne, Jim (Diana), ex-wife Kiki (Amy), BFF's David Albert and Joe Mochalski.

In lieu of flowers, consider performing a random act of kindness or mayhem in Dan's name.