Daniel Patrick Doyle's Obituary
Daniel Patrick Doyle lived a fulfilled life from June 5, 1957 to September 3, 2012Born in to a family of four, Daniel Patrick Doyle always cherished his kin. Over the course of his life he acted as the patriarch of his siblings and provided unconditional support for his immediate and calabash family. He was the glue that held his family fast through the best and most trying times.As the son of a sailor, his affinity for the Pacific was founded in his genetic make-up. He picked up a tiller under the watch of his Father, William Patrick Doyle, and the seed was planted. Shortly thereafter, Dan continued to gain interest in his new hobby through working a local chandlery in Waikiki. During his teenage years, his father bought him his first vessel, a sunfish, just so long as he cut his hair. Accompanied by his brothers, Tim and Terry, they surfed Diamond Head every morning before school. There was no keeping him from the elements, which earned him the nickname of “Rudolph” in high school, for his perpetually sunburned nose. At the age of 18, Dan enrolled in a navigational course to expand his understanding of yachting. Just a few months later, with the help of his buddy, Stanley Tutton, sailed the Tinsley Light from Hawaii to San Francisco. This was his first of many Pacific sailing crossings to come.After graduating high school, Dan moved to California and started work in the investment industry for a company called International Trading Group (ITG). He quickly moved through the ranks and won a plethora of awards, including top sales person, and became the youngest Vice President in the history of the company. While working for ITG, Dan showed interest in a female administrator on another floor and decided to send flowers to show his affection. Somehow the flowers got delivered to the wrong floor and a different woman he intended. But as fate would have it, this is how he met Leslie; the two were inseparable and shared 25 years of marriage together. Leslie and Dan moved back to Hawaii in '86 to start a family. Less than a year later, their first son Sean was born. It was around the same time that Dan purchased his first boat, a J-24 named Actuation. He jumped headfirst into the local racing circuit and honed his racing skills. In the following years he participated in various State Championships and Cup Championships. He and his longtime friend Michael Roth chartered one of the first ULDB designs, Chutzpah, to compete in the 1990 Pacific Cup. Dan’s second son, Justin, was born around the fledgling time of his first business, Capital Research Group. He continued to focus on provdiing for his family, while immersing himself in the world of sailing. He was part of the crew on the Mumm 36 “No Problem” and did handsomely in the Internationally renowned Kenwood Cup Championships. Dan’s successes in the sport lead him to purchase and race a Sonoma 30, he called “Two Guys on the Edge.” The name fittingly described his passion for shorthanded offshore passages, and characteristically defined his double-handed entry into various Pacific Cups and Transpacific Yacht Races. This didn’t leave mom without worries though, as their third son Ryan was still very young at the time.During the mid 90’s, Dan became involved heavily with the Waikiki Yacht Club and worked his way up to Commodore. He personally donated and helped to raise significant sums of money for their America’s Cup entry, Abracadabra. Dan also served on the Board of US Sailing and the Traspac Executive Committee. Because of his diplomacy and dedication to to the sport, Dan was defined as a true ambassador of the yachting world. In 2001, Dan dedicated his entry into the Transpacific Yacht Race to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and added Natalie, a recent 12 year-old survivor of leukemia, as an honorary crew member. They kept in touch with Natalie via Ham radio everyday of the race and strove to draw attention to individuals like Natalie and their fight against various blood related cancers. He and his crew Bruce Burgess raised thousands of dollars to help lessen the financial burden on Natalie’s family for her treatment and support the ongoing search for a cure.Anyone who came in contact with Dan could transparently see his selflessness and personal efforts to further the sport or sailing and touch anyone he came in contact with. Dan invited and handed the helm of his then newly purchased One Design 35, over to Charlie Dole for a number of years during the weekly Friday night races at Waikiki Yacht Club In 2007, he funded and handed over the keys to his boat to his two eldest sons, Sean and Justin to race in the Transpac as the youngest crew in the history of the 100 year race. Dan continually made sacrifices, in order to provide for and support a quality private school education for his three children, even in the face of life threatening illness. Although he struggled with disease for the later years of his life, he fought with courage and honor. And according to his family, no father could hold a stick to his parenting abilities.He passed away peacefully at Castle Hospital near his home in Kailua, Hawaii surrounded by his loving family. He is survived by his mother Patricia, his sister Colleen, two brothers Tim and Terry, his three sons Sean, Justin and Ryan, his wife Leslie, and lives on in the hearts and souls of the international sailing community and anyone else who was touched by such a loving father and gentleman. As a descendant of Irish heritage Dan always relished a glass of good scotch and ancient Irish proverbs. “Is fear rith maith na drocheasamh,” in Gaelic translated to “A good run is always better than a bad stand,” which Dan believed without a doubt and was reflected in the way he lived his life. Dan- We wish you a safe and speedy passage with fair winds and following seas. Memorial service Eight Bells Daniel Patrick Doyle October 6, 2012 Waikiki Yacht ClubJune 5, 1957-September 3, 2012 A proper send off for our mate and WYC Staff Commodore Dan Doyle. Dan left us way too soon but even in his short time here he accomplished more than most. Skipper -5 Transpacs, 4 Pacific Cups:Waikiki Yacht Club- R/C Power, Vice and CommodoreHYRA- Treasurer, Vice Commodore and CommodoreHYSA - Treasurer, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore, Commodore Aloha Racing- Americans Cup program-VP Board of Directors US Sailing- Board of DirectorsHYRA- Yachtsman of the YearWYC Jr. Sailing Parent of the Year – twice WYC US Sailing Sportsmanship award, twice. Schedule:9:30 am arrival10:30 am leave to scatter ashes 1:00-1:30 pm return from scattering ashes no host bar/lunch - talk story.2:00 pm 8 bells services 2:00 - 3:00 pm open mic.3:00 pm pau
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