Daniel Manuel Delih passed away peacefully at home with loved ones on December 11, 2023. Dan was the only child of Manuel and Emily Delih. He was born October 20, 1933 in San Francisco and grew up in Oakland and San Leandro. After High School graduation in 1952 Dan joined the Air Force. He spent four years with the Strategic Air Command 3903rd Radar Bomb Scoring Group in Phoenix, Arizona. Looking for fun and to meet people he bought a motorcycle and spent endless hours riding out in the desert.
After leaving the Air Force he returned to the Bay area, married and started a family.
Dan had the gift of gab, a good sense of humor, a great imagination and the belief that he could find a way to achieve anything he chose to do. He worked for Underwood Olivetti and with a family business for a short time then got his Real Estate Sales license and eventually his Brokers license. He joined the Teamsters, taught himself to drive truck and went to work for Hunt Wesson Foods in Hayward where he met his soul mate Lori. He knew nothing about sailing yet purchased a 36-foot sailboat and taught himself to sail. It made for some very interesting afternoons on the bay.
After a move to Woodland, Dan started and managed a successful window cleaning business until he retired. He introduced Lori to Afro Cuban, Latin Jazz and Salsa music, conga drums and timbales. She loved it all and soon Dan knew he wanted to start a band. Over the next 23 years they led three bands, played numerous venues and recorded an album.
A move to Oakdale began the next adventure when a large motorcycle rally passed through town. It re-kindled Dan’s love of motorcycles and soon he and Lori each had Harley Davidsons. They rode together for the next 12 years taking numerous road trips covering all the western states. Their longest trip was a ride to South Dakota for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.
Next was the restoration of a classic family owned 1976 Chevy K10 Pickup named Teddy. This was a two-year project overseen by Dan and Lori who also sourced most of the parts for the build.
In his later years Dan loved meeting friends for breakfast where he always had a story to tell. He enjoyed his congas, watching music videos of the Latin music he loved and spending time with the family dogs who competed for space on his lap.
Dan is survived by his loving wife Lori, sisters-in-law Karen Moore and Vicki West and their families. He was preceded in death by his son, and survived by a daughter and two grandchildren. Dan appreciated every day he was given, never took them for granted and was thankful to be at home with his family. No service is planned. He just wanted all of you to remember him as you knew him.
He will be loved forever and will be greatly missed in our lives.
The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader
The Riverbank (Calif.) News
Dec. 20, 2023
