It is with much sadness that we announce the passing of our DEAR LOVED ONE, Daniel Richard Pearson, after a short illness with Glioblastoma Brain Cancer. He was cared for at his home in Wilmington, NC by his loving wife, Nancy, and son, Raymond, along with his brother Bill Pearson. Surrounded by his family, Danny peacefully went to be with our Lord on Sunday, May 22, 2022.
Danny was born on February 20, 1951, in Arlington, Virginia to Gwendolyn Jean Taylor and William Edward Pearson. After graduating from Camp Lejeune High School in 1969, Danny attended East Carolina University where he earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Geology. Danny had a distinguished career as a professional exploration geologist with ExxonMobil during the 1980s and 1990s. Danny was an expert in well drilling and completion, and he managed a team of eight geoscientists responsible for drilling and evaluating ExxonMobil’s assets in the mid-continent region of the US. He lived in Corpus Christi and Houston, Texas as well as Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Danny was a multifaceted and gregarious geologist, and his influence reached beyond his normal responsibilities to include the merger of two of the largest divisions of ExxonMobil and the design of a system to store, allocate, and manage geoscience data. Danny was respected for his technical acumen, innovative exploration, fun-loving approach to work, and his eagerness to mentor new employees.
Danny reluctantly requested an early retirement in 1994 due to a chronic and debilitating spinal condition that was exacerbated by multiple spinal fusions. When Danny learned that his original spinal condition was due to a Bertolotti’s deformity, he built a House of Education for the Bertolotti's Syndrome Education Group (USA) on Facebook. The group considers Danny an honorary founding member whose “wisdom, thoughts of concern, and knowledge will be greatly missed.” In his work with the group, he was always driven to direct afflicted patients to knowledgable medical professionals and proven treatments. To date, Danny’s contribution to Bertolotti’s education has impacted more than 2,500 people in 20 countries.
In retirement, Danny found pleasure in a renewed appreciation for North Carolina’s coastal geology and oceanography, deepening a love for the coast that began at a young age with surfing and exploring the shoreline. He actively evaluated shoreline problems; continued to pursue his passion for hurricane science; provided education seminars to the public and local NOAA and weather professionals on hurricane storm surge; and put himself in the middle of active hurricanes to assess, measure, and document information on hurricane impacts.
It is the family’s greatest wish that Danny be remembered as the intellectual and vivacious man that he was—full of life and energy and ideas for how to make this world a better place. His love for family, friends, colleagues, peers, the water, coast, boating, music and dance will live on in his memory!
Danny was preceded in death by his father, William Edward Pearson and his stepfather, Major Richard Hawley USMC (Ret.). He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Nancy Sugg Pearson and son, Raymond Daniel Pearson of Wilmington, NC; his mother, Jean Taylor Hawley of Sneads Ferry, NC; brothers, William Pearson (Suzy) of Leland, NC and Robert Hawley (Teresa) of Jacksonville, NC as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and in-laws who loved him dearly.
The Pearson Family would like to acknowledge the caring medical service provided by Dr. Dean Karras, Dr. David Zub, Lower CF Life Care (Beth, RN), and all the staff, family, and friends who have assisted in Danny’s care over these past months and years.
A private family Memorial Service will be held at Coble Funeral & Cremation Service. The “Day for Danny”, a celebration of his life, is planned for Monday, July 18, 2022 from 10am-7pm at the Surf City Welcome Center (102 N Shore Dr., Surf City, NC). Casual beach festivities will begin at 10am. This is followed by a scheduled memorial event and toast from 3-4pm. Please RSVP if you plan to attend to [email protected] by July 1.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to: Stan and Ann Riggs Endowment Account through the ECU Geology Department by emailing Lauren Morrison at [email protected] ; North Carolina Coastal Federation at www.nccoast.org or NCCF Headquarters, 3609 NC 24, Newport, NC 28570; Black Box Dance Theatre (Michelle Pearson-niece, Executor Artistic Director) at www.blackboxdancetheatre.org or Venmo to Michelle Pearson (@BlackBoxDanceTheatre), or Lower Cape Fear Life Care at www.lifecare.org/donate or Lower Cape Fear Life Care, 1414 Physicians Dr, Wilmington, NC 28401
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