Daniel Jeffrey Plaine

As Dan faced Alzheimer’s head on, he retained his sense of humor and concern for others. He never engaged in self-pity and remained determined to live a full life. He was universally liked and respected. He was unfailingly fair and sympathetic, and never had an unkind word for anyone. He accentuated the positive and eliminated the negative in his approach to life, and he made life brighter for everyone who knew him.

Dan had a very distinguished academic record. He graduated from Williams College in 1965, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Following graduation, he attended the University of Cambridge as a Marshall Scholar, where he received an LLB in International Law in 1967. After Cambridge, Dan attended Yale Law School, graduating in 1970.

Dan was a partner at the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Washington, D.C. where he served as Co-Partner-in-Charge of the D.C. office for many years. His practice included international trade, investment regulation, mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and anti-trust matters. Dan had a deep respect for the law, his colleagues, and his clients.

Dan was widely known and greatly respected in the legal community, and very well versed in international political and foreign policy issues. He served as Chair of the International Business Law Committee of the ABA Business Law Section and as Co-Chair of its International Trade Subcommittee. He held leadership positions with the American Society of International Law and the Washington Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Dan was an avid skier, tennis player, and swimmer, but above all else, he loved spending time with his wife and two daughters. He was proud to coach his daughters’ soccer teams, cheer them on at swim meets, tennis matches and basketball games, and participate in twelve of their Father-Daughter Field Days.

Dan loved spending time on Martha’s Vineyard. He was frequently seen walking or biking down Chappaquiddick Road to get his newspaper and coffee in town. He liked to end each day on the deck with his three girls, watching the sunset.

Dan is survived by his wife Susan Ambrose Plaine and two daughters, Caroline and Meredith. He also leaves behind his sister Patricia Prinz.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Bradley Hills Presbyterian Church on Sunday June 11th at 1pm, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be sent to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund (https://curealz.org/outreach/in-memory/daniel-plaine/), 34 Washington St., Suite 310, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.