Obituary of Daniel C. McCormick

Daniel Carl McCormick, 89, passed away on June 10, 2023 at home in Palm City, Florida surrounded by his family.  He was born in New Brunswick, raised his family in Holmdel, and snow-birded in Palm City, Florida.

Dan is survived by his wife Carole, née Sayegh; sons Daniel (née Teresa Harrison), Michael (née Antoinette Strasser), and William (late Katherine Moore), grandchildren Daniel, Genevieve, Tristan, Michael, Jack, William and Maura.  Dan also leaves sisters Mary Theresa McCormick and Catherine Mitchell along with many nieces and nephews.

Enlistment in the United States Marine Corps became a seminal moment in his life, serving from June 1955 to April 1958. There he met three of his dearest friends who called him The Gung Ho Kid. Dan was stationed to Okinawa Japan with the 3rd Marine Division, earning his Shellback in transit January 1957 aboard the USS Telfair(APA-210). After his service commitment he met, the sister of one of the Marines, and they married in 1960. The friendship was a commitment the Marines all made to one another and it would last to their final days: Dan called Eddie, the only remaining buddy, just days before his passing to say a heartbreaking, tearful good-bye.

Dan grew his independent insurance agency for 20 years when, together with Vince Pavese, he became a partner of the newly formed Pavese-McCormick Agency. Dan retired in 1995.

An early member of the New Jersey Open Road Thunderbird Club, Dan was a uniquely avid antique car enthusiast, with a soft spot for ‘ragtops’.  He simultaneously owned the 3 iconic Ford Thunderbird’s from 1955, 1956, and 1957. The powder blue `57 he owned from 1964 would be associated with him for the rest of his life – it was and always will be “Dan’s T-Bird”.

He also enjoyed making orange marmalade at home known as “Dan’s Doings”, perfected his own ceviche, and won (and lost) countless nickels shooting pistols with his Jersey and Florida friends.

Dan was known for his two hole-in-ones and his long putting accuracy among his many close friends at the Bamm Hollow Golf Club(NJ) and the Evergreen Golf Club(FL).

We will all miss his blue eyes and big smile!

A Memorial Gathering will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023 at Clayton and McGirr Funeral Home, 100 Elton-Adelphia Road, (Route 524), Freehold, from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend his 12:00 PM Funeral Mass on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at St. Catherine of Siena, 31 Asbury Road, Farmingdale. In lieu of flowers a donation to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, 2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306 [https://t2t.org/t2t-donate] would be appreciated. For information, directions, or to leave condolence messages to the family please visit www.claytonfuneralhome.com.

“…The summer’s gone, and all the roses falling,
It’s you, it’s you must go, and I must bide…”

Semper Fi