Dan was born on October 8, 1937 in Pasadena, California. The third son of Marie and Albert Kanan, he was one of five children. He was blessed to have two brothers, Edmund and Gilbert, and two sisters Nadia and Amira.
Shortly after Dan’s birth, the decision was made to move to the beach town of Santa Monica. The decision to relocate to this beach community was a welcomed one as the ocean and beach became a haven for Dan and his siblings, as well as all of their future offspring. In 1945, the family moved to Pacific Palisades for a few years and then back to Santa Monica in 1949 where Dan attended local schools. He graduated from Santa Monica High School in 1955 then attended classes at Santa Monica City College before transferring to UCLA where he earned a Business Degree in Real Estate in 1959.
One of Dan’s first jobs was working at McCarthy’s Drugs on Montana. While making deliveries to another local McCarthy’s Drugs on Lincoln and Ocean Park, Dan often spotted a young beauty, Cheryel Greaney, and finally asked her out in 1958. The young couple married in September 1960 and ultimately built and settled down into their modern, electric “dream house” in the Palisades in 1963. Here they raised their five children: Dan, Debbie, Jim, Nikki, and Tami.
Dan’s life-long passion was real estate. He began his career at the Los Angeles County Assessor’s Office in 1960 and retired in the late 1970’s as a Senior Appraiser. During the mid-1960’s, Dan also obtained his Real Estate Broker’s license. He worked at Litton Industries’ Real Estate Department for approximately a year when he left to join his brother’s company. Dan remained at Kanan Bros. until the 1990’s when he started his own company, Kanan Associates, where he focused on real estate brokerage and appraisals. His favorite past-time with his family, or alone, was to drive the Westside looking at property.
Dan had many passions in life, most of them involving sports. He was an avid beach and court volleyball player and loved basketball. For most of his life, he ran daily on the beach and always took a short “dip” in the ocean…regardless of the season or weather! He was a tremendous handball player and most recently an advocate for trying to keep this dying sport alive in younger generations. In doing so, Dan solicited a grant and then established and taught a youth handball program at the Santa Monica YMCA.
Dan was extremely involved in community and charitable organizations. Following is a partial list of the numerous organizations in which Dan was a participant, committee member, or board member:
Santa Monica Jaycees (President); Santa Monica Boys Club Council (Charter Member); Santa Monica Rotary; Pacific Palisades Optimist; Santa Monica Y’s Men Breakfast Club (President); Santa Monica YMCA Board of Directors; Santa Monica YMCA Executive Board; Santa Monica YMCA Advisory Board; Santa Monica YMCA Building Committee; Santa Monica City College Associates Board; Pacific Palisades Boy Scouts Troop 400 (Assistant Scoutmaster); Santa Monica YMCA Indian Guides (Chief of the Nation); Pacific Palisades YMCA Indian Guide and Princess Programs; Santa Monica Board of Realtors; Santa Monica Bay Halibut Derby; Pacific Palisades Civic League
In addition, Dan supported Cheryel in all of her many philanthropic organizations.
His kindness and goodness were extended to many through these various groups. Additionally, through the years he coached youth sports, chauffeured field trips and babysat grandchildren.
Dan extended wisdom, friendship and a huge smile to everyone he met. He considered everyone a part of his extended family…he was an unofficial, “adopted” dad to all his kids’ friends. He was a mentor and hero in the eyes of most who were fortunate to have come in contact with this amazing, gentle, fun-loving man.
As one of the many condolence callers stated, “If we all had a little Dan in us, we’d all be better people.”
Most of all his family, and especially his seven grandchildren, were his entire life and he showered them all with unconditional love. His gentle spirit, infectious smile and great laugh will be missed by all, but will resound in all of our hearts forever!
Dan is survived by his loving wife and life-partner, Cheryel; his five amazing children Dan (wife Bianca), Debbie, Jim (wife Christine), Nikki and Tami (husband John); his seven precious grandchildren Jake, Daniel, Kobe, Malia, Kaia, Alani, and Emma; his beautiful sisters Nadia (husband Camille) and Amira (husband Hans); his sister-in-law Sharon; his wonderful nephews and niece Mitch (Olivia), Eddie (Stephanie), Kevin, Gregg (Shelly) and Kristen; and his terrific great-nephews and nieces Josh, Nikolas, Sarah, Sophia, Samuel and Gilbert.
Dan also leaves behind his dearly loved, four-legged pals Magua and Bruno.
Dan was preceded in death by his beloved mother Marie, his father Albert and his two brothers Gilbert and Edmund.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to the Santa Monica YMCA, 1332 6th Street, Santa Monica, California 90401. Please make sure that donations are noted in Dan’s memory. These donations will be earmarked for the Childcare Development Program for which Dan was very proud of and helped bring to fruition.
