Born in Fresno to Cora and Jackson Saunders, Dan's early years were filled with, sailing, camping and skiing trips to the mountains. Born on skis would be the best description of Dan's smooth effortless alpine style. Inspired by a talk given by Sir Edmund Hillary, Dan's love affair with hiking, climbing and ski mountaineering was sparked.
As an Educator of Social Science for 34 years, primarily at Duncan Polytechnical High, Dan used his summers and holidays to pursue his many hobbies. He introduced and mentored many people to the joys of backpacking, skiing and fishing. He shared many of those adventures in his famous slide shows where altitudes and names of peaks were always accurate. Dan's other hobbies included: cycling, triathlons, golfing, hunting, fly fishing, mountain climbing, river rafting and traveling the world.
On Sept. 5, 1976 he met his life partner and wife, Gail, at a dance at Huntington Lake. For the next 41 years he took his mountain girl on their epic journey through life. Trips to Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Mexico, and Canada filled their passports.
Dan's trips with climbing buddies included: Denali, Mt. Blanc, Grand Teton, Longs Peak, Mt. Shasta, Whitney and many additional peaks in his beloved Sierra Nevada. Dan's zest for life matched his love of time spent with his extended family and friends. Celebrations and holidays were always cause for a gathering; the more, the merrier was how Dan saw these opportunities. He welcomed all and opened his home to exchange students and others. Dan had an innate ability to retain, dates, facts and personal interests for everyone that was present and easily engaged in conversation with guests of every age at these social functions. Dan lived an epic life and is truly "Unforgettable".
He is joining his father, Jackson; mother, Cora; brothers John and Frankie who preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Gail; sister in-law Maureen Saunders; brother Ed and partner; Penny; in-laws, Barbara Hayden, Rob and Bobbi Hayden, Steve and Heidi Hayden, Bob and Beverly (Hayden) Pugh and numerous; nieces; nephews; cousins, a Danish daughter; grandkids and many friends.
A Celebration of his Life will be held at D and D Ranch in Madera on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to City of Hope-Lung Cancer Research or Valley Children's Hospital.
Published in the Fresno Bee on Nov. 5, 2017
As an Educator of Social Science for 34 years, primarily at Duncan Polytechnical High, Dan used his summers and holidays to pursue his many hobbies. He introduced and mentored many people to the joys of backpacking, skiing and fishing. He shared many of those adventures in his famous slide shows where altitudes and names of peaks were always accurate. Dan's other hobbies included: cycling, triathlons, golfing, hunting, fly fishing, mountain climbing, river rafting and traveling the world.
On Sept. 5, 1976 he met his life partner and wife, Gail, at a dance at Huntington Lake. For the next 41 years he took his mountain girl on their epic journey through life. Trips to Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Mexico, and Canada filled their passports.
Dan's trips with climbing buddies included: Denali, Mt. Blanc, Grand Teton, Longs Peak, Mt. Shasta, Whitney and many additional peaks in his beloved Sierra Nevada. Dan's zest for life matched his love of time spent with his extended family and friends. Celebrations and holidays were always cause for a gathering; the more, the merrier was how Dan saw these opportunities. He welcomed all and opened his home to exchange students and others. Dan had an innate ability to retain, dates, facts and personal interests for everyone that was present and easily engaged in conversation with guests of every age at these social functions. Dan lived an epic life and is truly "Unforgettable".
He is joining his father, Jackson; mother, Cora; brothers John and Frankie who preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Gail; sister in-law Maureen Saunders; brother Ed and partner; Penny; in-laws, Barbara Hayden, Rob and Bobbi Hayden, Steve and Heidi Hayden, Bob and Beverly (Hayden) Pugh and numerous; nieces; nephews; cousins, a Danish daughter; grandkids and many friends.
A Celebration of his Life will be held at D and D Ranch in Madera on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to City of Hope-Lung Cancer Research or Valley Children's Hospital.
Published in the Fresno Bee on Nov. 5, 2017
Born in Fresno to Cora and Jackson Saunders, Dan's early years were filled with, sailing, camping and skiing trips to the mountains. Born on skis would be the best description of Dan's smooth effortless alpine style. Inspired by a talk given by Sir Edmund Hillary, Dan's love affair with hiking, climbing and ski mountaineering was sparked.
As an Educator of Social Science for 34 years, primarily at Duncan Polytechnical High, Dan used his summers and holidays to pursue his many hobbies. He introduced and mentored many people to the joys of backpacking, skiing and fishing. He shared many of those adventures in his famous slide shows where altitudes and names of peaks were always accurate. Dan's other hobbies included: cycling, triathlons, golfing, hunting, fly fishing, mountain climbing, river rafting and traveling the world.
On Sept. 5, 1976 he met his life partner and wife, Gail, at a dance at Huntington Lake. For the next 41 years he took his mountain girl on their epic journey through life. Trips to Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Mexico, and Canada filled their passports.
Dan's trips with climbing buddies included: Denali, Mt. Blanc, Grand Teton, Longs Peak, Mt. Shasta, Whitney and many additional peaks in his beloved Sierra Nevada. Dan's zest for life matched his love of time spent with his extended family and friends. Celebrations and holidays were always cause for a gathering; the more, the merrier was how Dan saw these opportunities. He welcomed all and opened his home to exchange students and others. Dan had an innate ability to retain, dates, facts and personal interests for everyone that was present and easily engaged in conversation with guests of every age at these social functions. Dan lived an epic life and is truly "Unforgettable".
He is joining his father, Jackson; mother, Cora; brothers John and Frankie who preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Gail; sister in-law Maureen Saunders; brother Ed and partner; Penny; in-laws, Barbara Hayden, Rob and Bobbi Hayden, Steve and Heidi Hayden, Bob and Beverly (Hayden) Pugh and numerous; nieces; nephews; cousins, a Danish daughter; grandkids and many friends.
A Celebration of his Life will be held at D and D Ranch in Madera on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to City of Hope-Lung Cancer Research or Valley Children's Hospital.
Published in the Fresno Bee on Nov. 5, 2017
As an Educator of Social Science for 34 years, primarily at Duncan Polytechnical High, Dan used his summers and holidays to pursue his many hobbies. He introduced and mentored many people to the joys of backpacking, skiing and fishing. He shared many of those adventures in his famous slide shows where altitudes and names of peaks were always accurate. Dan's other hobbies included: cycling, triathlons, golfing, hunting, fly fishing, mountain climbing, river rafting and traveling the world.
On Sept. 5, 1976 he met his life partner and wife, Gail, at a dance at Huntington Lake. For the next 41 years he took his mountain girl on their epic journey through life. Trips to Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, South America, Mexico, and Canada filled their passports.
Dan's trips with climbing buddies included: Denali, Mt. Blanc, Grand Teton, Longs Peak, Mt. Shasta, Whitney and many additional peaks in his beloved Sierra Nevada. Dan's zest for life matched his love of time spent with his extended family and friends. Celebrations and holidays were always cause for a gathering; the more, the merrier was how Dan saw these opportunities. He welcomed all and opened his home to exchange students and others. Dan had an innate ability to retain, dates, facts and personal interests for everyone that was present and easily engaged in conversation with guests of every age at these social functions. Dan lived an epic life and is truly "Unforgettable".
He is joining his father, Jackson; mother, Cora; brothers John and Frankie who preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife, Gail; sister in-law Maureen Saunders; brother Ed and partner; Penny; in-laws, Barbara Hayden, Rob and Bobbi Hayden, Steve and Heidi Hayden, Bob and Beverly (Hayden) Pugh and numerous; nieces; nephews; cousins, a Danish daughter; grandkids and many friends.
A Celebration of his Life will be held at D and D Ranch in Madera on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to City of Hope-Lung Cancer Research or Valley Children's Hospital.
Published in the Fresno Bee on Nov. 5, 2017
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