Danny Lopez

Danny Lopez was a man for whom actions would speak louder than words. His life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Danny’s life. He was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. He was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Danny was modest in his actions and extremely literal in his thoughts and in the manner in which he communicated with others. When Danny said something, he meant it. All those who knew him appreciated this trademark quality.

Danny was born on September 29, 1951 in El Paso, Texas to his mother Amelia. Danny was raised in Los Angeles, California. Even as a small child, Danny wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Danny grew older, he realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, he treated everyone around him the same way. This belief in fair play served Danny well throughout his life and despite his natural shyness; he enjoyed a solid group of friends.

During his childhood, family and friends viewed Danny as a quiet and reserved person with what most would consider a calm and tranquil demeanor. In fact, he was a fairly curious child who had the ability to entertain himself and didn’t require much in the way of outside stimulation. A great deal of Danny’s free time was spent learning how and why the things around him worked. He was an active child who loved being outdoors and absorbing all the sensory input that nature could provide. He took part in baseball and football. He was a Boy Scout. In his spare time he liked playing with army men (toy figures).

The fact that he was curious was an asset to Danny while he was in school. He possessed strong study skills and good concentration. He relished the task of scrutinizing problems, investigating all of the options and then solving them. Danny enjoyed tackling the project that was right in front of him and working it straight through to its conclusion. Sometimes, he would become so involved in the process of problem solving that he would lose awareness of his surroundings. Experience was Danny’s best teacher. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1970. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. He was member of the ROTC.

The same qualities that served as assets for Danny while he was in high school were tools that built success in his college years. His ability to work through problems and assignments without wasting time and energy demonstrated to his instructors that he possessed a real “stick to it” attitude that allowed him to succeed despite an underlying desire to defer making difficult decisions. Danny was an analytical and an independent thinker, qualities that allowed him to develop and implement effective strategies and techniques to meet his college workload. He earned his AA Political Science from Cal State Northridge. Danny was a dorm president in college.

Those who didn’t know Danny well might have thought him to be objective and somewhat emotionally detached, but family and friends who were close to him knew that he was capable of unexpected flashes of humor. Danny’s good friends tended to be “thinkers” like him. Even though the circle of friends was somewhat small, it was a strong and loyal group, and Danny liked nothing better than to spend his free time with them. Danny was well known for always being up front and open, never hiding his true feelings, qualities that drew deep loyalty from his friends because they understood and appreciated him for the person he was. Another quality that people admired in Danny was his ability to link cause and effect and apply the appropriate connection in his assessment of any new situation. Later in life, he became friends with Steve Switzer.

This same loyalty and up front honesty Danny shared with his friends carried over to other aspects of his life, including his relationships with his family. He was a great listener who enjoyed the couple’s “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.

As the family grew, Danny was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Danny was blessed with two children, two daughters, Brandie and Jennifer. Danny was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, he would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Danny was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Danny’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.

Danny’s curious and inquisitive nature influenced his choice of leisure pursuits as well. He applied his strong concentration and analytical skills as to how things worked to his choice of activities. He particularly enjoyed the “alone” time his hobbies provided. His favorite pursuits were building model airplanes, collecting baseball cards, and gardening. Danny was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Danny had the ability to stay calm and the determination to do what was necessary to get the job finished, traits that helped him enjoy sports. Recreational sports included baseball. Danny was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were baseball, football, and boxing.

Religion and faith were important to Danny. He held dear the faith and values he derived from his beliefs. He was a member of Harvest Christian Fellowship.

Because he was a man who let his actions speak for themselves, Danny didn’t find it necessary to brag or boast. But it wasn’t always possible for him to conceal his accomplishments. Others who recognized his achievements made certain that he was honored for them. Some of his most prestigious awards included outstanding citizen from the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Danny appreciated the occasions when he was able to travel and get away on a vacation. He enjoyed learning about different locales and was open to exploring new and different places. Favorite vacation spots included Favorite vacations included Grand Canyon and camping. He thoroughly enjoyed the task of gathering and analyzing travel information as he prepared for an upcoming trip.

Danny was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Danny’s favorites was Peanut, a miniature dachshund dog. They were best friends for 17 years. His family was rounded out by a cat, Matilda.

Danny passed away on February 5, 2012 at Clara Baldwin Stocker Home in West Covina, California. He is survived by his wife Rosie and his daughters Brandie and Jennifer. Services were held at Oakdale Memorial Chapel. Danny was laid to rest in Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendora, California.

Danny strongly believed that talk is cheap. He was the type of person who would show others his feelings through his actions. He was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. He had a curiosity about the things around him and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences he treasured most were those he shared with his loved ones. Danny Lopez will be greatly missed.