Daniel Richard Michael Ginnane-Gannon, 81, of James Island, SC, husband of Nancy Toal Gannon, passed away March 28, 2023 at Roper Hospice in Mt. Pleasant, SC. He was a resident of James Island for 35 years. Mr. Gannon was born February 18, 1942 in Batavia, New York, son of the late Thomas S. Ginnane-Gannon and Gwendolyn Leonie Hammett Gannon. He was a graduate of Batavia High School, Class of 1959. Mr. Gannon graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State University of Brockport, NY (SUNY) in 1963, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. Upon graduation, he took a position with the Pembroke Central School System in New York and taught at the elementary school in Corfu, NY for 25 years. Mr. Gannon was a Union Organizer Leader with NYS United Teachers Association, AFT, NEA and formed the first teacher’s union in the Pembroke school system. He was also responsible for the organizing of all non-teaching personnel in the Pembroke school system into a union of their own.
After retiring from his union presidency and teaching duties at Pembroke, he moved to Charleston along with his wife, Nancy, who became the Chief of Dietetics at the Veterans Medical Center in downtown Charleston. Mr. Gannon became a Family History Researcher and amateur Genealogist after his arrival in Charleston and assisted hundreds of people worldwide who had connections to the city and required help in finding their ancestors. He found his own living relatives in England, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.
Mr. Gannon also worked with the Department of Defense after arriving in Charleston, taking a position as Director of Vending Activities at the old Naval Base as well as all the vending activities at the weapon station in Goose Creek, SC, the Air Force Base in North Charleston, and the Naval and Marine Base in Beaufort, SC. He was very active in Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon in Charleston for 35 years.
Mr. Gannon was also known as Dan the Beach Man at Folly Beach, SC. He would walk the beach every morning at 5 am looking for treasures and trash while keeping the area clean.
Mr. Gannon is survived by his wife of 35 years, Nancy; youngest daughter, Gwendolyn A. Gannon-Harvey and son-in-law Joseph Harvey of Wallingford, KY - Gwen is a Board Certified Psychiatric Registered Nurse, Board Certified Rehabilitation RN and Certified Nurse Case Manager; brother-in-law, Nicholas P. Figlow of Sarasota, FL; sister-in-law, Barbara Toal of Batavia, NY; brother-in-law, Larry and sister-in-law Patti Toal of Batavia, NY; grandchildren: Nicholas Bischoff - a carpenter; Dylan Bischoff - a carpenter and project manager both of Lockport, NY; Dana Lingard of Jacksonville, FL - a Nutrition Counselor/Healthcare professional; Erin Lingard of Ridgewood, NY - an Artist and Welder; Gilberto Millares of Englewood, FL - is attending Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University/Pilot Program; Alex Wetmore of Hamburg, NY and Lynsey Wetmore of Oakfield, NY; and a number of great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews on both sides.
He was predeceased by his sister in 2021, MaryAnn Figlow; his oldest daughter in 2022, Loretta Louise Bischoff - a Day Habitation Specialist in Niagara Falls, NY and a graduate of Buffalo State University; his stepson in 2013, Shawn Wetmore; and his youngest granddaughter in 2016, Lissette Gwendolyn Millares - an avid equestrian.
Mr. Gannon's Celebration of Life will be held at a later date, possibly June 2023. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.
A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting www.jhenrystuhr.com
Please send donations to:
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
1600 Corporate Parkway
Virginia Beach, VA 23454-5617
Ph. 757-563-1600
Fax. 757-563-1656
Alcoholics Anonymous
General Service Office
P.O. Box 459
Grand Central Station
New York, NY 10163
