Daniel Francis Mulvihill

Mercy Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa to proud parents, James and Katherine Mulvihill. He was the fourth

of eight children.

Dan grew up on the Mulvihill Family Farm, where they grew corn, soybeans and raised Herford cattle and

hogs. As a boy, Dan was educated at Lee #7, a one room schoolhouse, along with his seven siblings and

neighbors. He attended Dowling High School, Des Moines. Dan graduated from Iowa State University,

with a degree in Animal Husbandry in 1949.

After graduation, Dan served in the U. S. Army, as a PFC, attending boot camp at Ft. Carson, Colorado.

Because of his farm background, he was given the charge of inspector of all foods of animal origin for all

branches of the service, mainly inspecting and purchasing meat, pork, eggs, in the Midwest region.

After completing his time in the Army, Dan returned to assist on the family farm. He re-enrolled at Iowa

State University in 1953 to take a course on animal nutrition. That was a life-changing decision, as he met

Mary Collins, a senior at Iowa State University. .

In July of 1953, Mary and her family relocated to La Jolla, CA . Dan kept in touch and soon followed Mary

to La Jolla in February of 1954, and they were married in August of 1955. They continued their love affair

and marriage for 64 years.

Dan is survived by his loving wife Mary and his six children and twelve grandchildren. They are: Dr. Mary

M. Mulvihill, Dr. Daniel F. Mulvihill II (Kathleen), James J. Mulvihill, John C. Mulvihill, Julie Mayer (Robert),

and Michael J. Mulvihill (Wendy). Dan’s beloved grandchildren include Daniel F. Mulvihill III, Melanie

Mulvihill Sizor (John), Kevin Mulvihill (Caitie), Michael Mulvihill, John Mulvihill II, Keely Mulvihill, Annie,

Kate and Ella Mulvihill, and Faith and Bo Mayer, brother Robert Mulvihill (Josetta), sister in law Pat

Mulvihill, sister in law Jeanine Mulvihill, brother in law Robert Collins (Alicia), brother in law Arthur

Thomson, sister in law Ruth Kelly, sister in law Judy Collins, and sister in law Sandy Collins.

Dan began his career in 1954 making farm and ranch loans in California for the Percy H Goodwin

Company, becoming Vice President and Chairman of the Board. In 1972, Dan founded his own

company, Pacific Southwest Mortgage, in association with Harry Collins and Willis Allen. The company

continued making and servicing commercial and agricultural loans in Southern California and the

Southwest . Over the years, the company moved into all facets of commercial real estate including

development, asset management, property management and brokerage. The company was instrumental

in the development, operation, and management of Kearny Mesa Complex, Mercy Medical Building and

Scottsdale Conference Resort.

That company continues today under two separate umbrellas: Pacific Southwest Realty Services, owned

and operated by Dan’s son, James, and nephew, Daniel Phelan, which handles commercial loans in

Southern California and the Southwest, and Pacific Southwest Mortgage, the family company, which owns

and operates real estate assets, and is run by his son, John.

Dan gave to his community. He was at the forefront of giving to and serving in many organizations,

including the American Ireland Fund, San Diego (Past President), University of San Diego School of

Business Advisory Board, Chief Fundraiser of the Ernest W. Hahn Chair of Real Estate Finance at USD, a

past Chairman of the President’s Club at USD, and a long standing member of USD’s Burnham Moore’s

Real Estate Center Advisory Board, being awarded emeritus status in 2019.

In 1985, Dan served as the organizing chairman of the Scripps Mercy Hospital Foundation at the

insistence of Sister Mary Joanne DeVincenti. Dan’s response: “Yes, Sister!” To date, more than $160

million in unrestricted funds have been raised to benefit Scripps Mercy. In 1986, he was appointed to

the Board of Trustees at Scripps Health and served as a trustee of Scripps Health Foundation of

Medicine and Science in 1996. Dan loved to help those in need, especially through health care and

the Scripps Mercy Foundation. In 2006, in recognition of his decades of community service, he was

honored as San Diego’s “Nice Guy of the Year”, by the San Diego Nice Guys Foundation.

In 2009, Dan was awarded an honorary doctorate in Philosophy from Pontifical University, Saint Patrick’s

College, Maynooth, Ireland, after over 25 years of support for the college and seminary. In addition, to

honor his Irish heritage, he sat on the International Board of the American Ireland Fund, which raised

money to promote peace, culture, and charity in Ireland. Dan loved being Irish, was an avid Nortre Dame

football fan, had a great tenor voice, and never missed an opportunity to belt out his favorite song “Danny

Boy”!

Gregarious and fun-loving, Dan had a keen interest in people. His compassion, generosity, and

willingness to lend his expertise to others flowed through all he did. He loved to laugh, sing, and to

be around children. A child at heart, he loved Irish jokes, lots of holiday lights, and was a notorious,

creative prankster. As a fix-it tinkerer, gadget lover, admirer of trains and moving toys, his garages

were a well-used play space for he and his grandchildren.

Dan was a man of action, one who got involved and was not afraid to ask others to help as well. He was

committed to his loving wife Mary, his family, his faith, his company and all who worked with him there,

and his community. Dan believed “one person could make a difference” and “together, we can help

others in need”. He led by example and challenges each of you to give back to someone or something

important to you.

Dan was dedicated to his church, from his upbringing at Saint Patrick’s parish in Cumming, Iowa,

continuing with many years of service at All Hallows Church in La Jolla. Dan always made his faith a

priority in life. He is now in the hands of God, smiling down upon us! ‘

To continue his legacy of giving, please consider making a donation in memory of Dan Mulvihill to St.

Patrick’s Catholic Church, Dan’s boyhood parish in the Irish Settlement, host of the 1979 visit of Saint

Pope John Paul II, or to Scripps Mercy Hospital.

St. Patrick’s Catholic Church

c/o St. Joseph’s Church

1026 N. 8th Avenue

Winterset, IA 50273

Scripps Mercy Hospital

c/o Scripps Health Foundation

P.O. Box 2669

La Jolla, CA 92038

A private service will be held for family members only due to Covid19.