Danny Craig Rupli

A resident of Columbia, Md, Dan is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, daughter, Jacqueline and children from his first marriage, Randy (Nancy), Andrew (Danielle) and Erika (Rupli) Auchterlonie (Roberto). Also surviving are sisters Kathy Rupli Parker and Robin Rupli, his former wife, Brenda Rupli, grandchildren, Seven Auchterlonie, Kristopher and Sophia Rupli and nephew Jason Rupli. Dan was pre-deceased in 1989 by his nephew, Richard Saaks.

Danny Craig Rupli was born Feb. 23, 1943 in Chicago to Craig Rupli, a WWII U.S. Marine and Hattie Lee (Young), a homemaker. He grew up in Silver Spring, Md. where he attended Montgomery Blair High School, graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in history and earning a juris doctor from the University of Baltimore in 1969.

Dan’s work for the U.S. Dept of Justice included enforcement of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 where his travel to Mississippi included oversight of voter registration, often at his own physical risk. In 1995 he served as trade representative to China for Gov. Parris Glendening.

Dan’s political activism led to several runs for public office. In 1976, at the age of 33 he became the Democratic candidate for Congress in Maryland’s 6th district, narrowly losing to incumbent Rep. Goodloe Byron.

In 2014 he ran for Maryland State Senate and in 2024 competed for an open seat in its 3rd Congressional district. Nearly 50 years after his first campaign he said to Maryland Reporter, “Why shouldn’t someone with 50 years of political experience be taken seriously as a candidate? . . Kids are turned off right now. Democrats don’t inspire them. They have a very cynical view of the future . . . I’ve got nothing to lose.”

Dan was a political advisor and campaign manager, serving as surrogate for Sen. Tom Harkin’s presidential primary campaign in 1992 and for Sen. John Kerry’s presidential campaign in 2004. In an interview with The New York Times, Rupli described himself as being like “a 27-year cicada – every quarter century I come out and do something wild.” Senator Kerry’s office manager, Mary Tarr described Dan as “like a stick of dynamite with determination and drive that’s unbelievable.”

Through the years, Rupli also served in the 2006 Senate campaign of Kweisi Mfume and other political campaigns. In a statement to Maryland Reporter, Rep. Mfume observed that Dan stayed in touch with many of the candidates he had supported for years.

“Dan was one of the more principled political people that I have ever known,” said Rep. Mfume, who reclaimed his old 7th District House seat in 2020. “His sense of fairness and justice was exceeded only by his belief in the ability to bring about change. He gave so much of himself and offered himself up – over and over again – to communities across the state of Maryland as someone willing to fight the good fight. He was a friend who will be deeply missed.”

In 2002 Dan had urged then-State Sen. Chris Van Hollen to run for Congress, who won the Democratic primary against Del. Mark Kennedy Shriver, defeating incumbent Republican Congresswoman Connie Morella. Sen. Van Hollen remembered Dan in an interview with Maryland Reporter:

“Dan Rupli understood the importance of participating fully in our democracy and using your voice to make a difference. He used his to make our state and our nation stronger, for which we were always grateful. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time.”

Dan’s sister, Robin said, “Dan had no patience with the status quo – he thought positive change was as obvious to everyone else as it was to him. He was “a dreamer” – but those dreams were rooted in his parents’ mid-western upbringing, common sense and a desire for public good.”

Dan was devoted to his family and cherished by many. His sudden absence leaves an irreplaceable void and voice for civil rights. Donations in Dan’s name may be made to Amnesty International.

Memorial services will be held at St. Paul’s Episcopal Parish, Rock Creek Cemetery, Rock Creek Church Rd. and Webster St, NW, Washington. DC 20011, Friday, April 11, 2025 at noon, burial to follow at 1:00.