Daniel D. Freitas, 67, entered into rest on Tuesday, October 13, 2009, surrounded by his loving family at his home in Fresno. Dan was diagnosed with Stage IV cancer in 2004 and fought cancer with everything he had. He surpassed all odds.
Dan was born and raised in Merced, California, on August 23, 1942 to Portuguese immigrants. He was the youngest of six children. He left high school and joined the Navy after working in the fields of Livingston. He served on the USS Ranger and returned to the Valley upon his honorable discharge.
He found his way to the Bay Area where he met his wife Candice Canty of San Francisco, with whom he would spend the next 40 years. Dan became the Production Manager of an international manufacturing company in Hayward. Over the decades, he traveled the world setting up manufacturing plants and enjoyed refurbishing cars on the side. Red Corvettes were his car of choice and over his lifetime, he owned seven Corvettes. He worked for the same company for 40 years, commuting from Manteca.
Dan had two failed lobectomies, endured eight chemotherapy drugs over the course of his treatment and had 6,500 rads of radiation. He traveled a total of 9,000 miles to participate in a clinical trial for 14 months and had cyber knife robotic radiosurgery. He was motivated, discouraged for brief moments, but always hopeful along the way. Dan completed more projects with Stage IV cancer than most people do with a clean bill of health. If you knew Dan, there is something in your house or garage that he built or repaired. Dan and Candy moved to Fresno to be closer to their children in 2005.
Dan never stayed in bed - not after chemo, not after radiation, not even after hospice. Dan completed every job as if it was the most important job in the world. Irrespective of its size, whether it was changing a sprinkler head or setting up his award-winning Christmas decorations, Dan found purpose in his work.
Dan lives on in his wife Candy; his two children, Danny Freitas and Tracey Scharmann, and his six grandchildren, Chloe, Bailey and Saul Freitas and Briannah, Madison and Rylee Scharmann. He is survived by his siblings, Mary Herrera of Hayward and Tina Hernandez of Dinuba, and many dear nieces and nephews. He was a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, brother, uncle, and friend.
A celebration of life will be held at Clovis Veteran’s Memorial on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 2 p.m. Dan was the man.
Dan was born and raised in Merced, California, on August 23, 1942 to Portuguese immigrants. He was the youngest of six children. He left high school and joined the Navy after working in the fields of Livingston. He served on the USS Ranger and returned to the Valley upon his honorable discharge.
He found his way to the Bay Area where he met his wife Candice Canty of San Francisco, with whom he would spend the next 40 years. Dan became the Production Manager of an international manufacturing company in Hayward. Over the decades, he traveled the world setting up manufacturing plants and enjoyed refurbishing cars on the side. Red Corvettes were his car of choice and over his lifetime, he owned seven Corvettes. He worked for the same company for 40 years, commuting from Manteca.
Dan had two failed lobectomies, endured eight chemotherapy drugs over the course of his treatment and had 6,500 rads of radiation. He traveled a total of 9,000 miles to participate in a clinical trial for 14 months and had cyber knife robotic radiosurgery. He was motivated, discouraged for brief moments, but always hopeful along the way. Dan completed more projects with Stage IV cancer than most people do with a clean bill of health. If you knew Dan, there is something in your house or garage that he built or repaired. Dan and Candy moved to Fresno to be closer to their children in 2005.
Dan never stayed in bed - not after chemo, not after radiation, not even after hospice. Dan completed every job as if it was the most important job in the world. Irrespective of its size, whether it was changing a sprinkler head or setting up his award-winning Christmas decorations, Dan found purpose in his work.
Dan lives on in his wife Candy; his two children, Danny Freitas and Tracey Scharmann, and his six grandchildren, Chloe, Bailey and Saul Freitas and Briannah, Madison and Rylee Scharmann. He is survived by his siblings, Mary Herrera of Hayward and Tina Hernandez of Dinuba, and many dear nieces and nephews. He was a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, brother, uncle, and friend.
A celebration of life will be held at Clovis Veteran’s Memorial on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at 2 p.m. Dan was the man.
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009
