Daniel Dan Dowd

Daniel Dowd, 63, of Greenfield, Massachusetts, passed away on February 8, 2017. Born in Holyoke, Dan carried with him a deep love of music and words throughout his life. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts–Amherst and a disabled U.S. Navy veteran who served at Guantánamo Bay, he was known to family and friends for his quick laugh, his quiet appreciation for poetry, and his devotion to music.

An always-present musician, Dan was central to the band The Crybabies, where his passion for performance and camaraderie found clear expression. Those who knew him remember him as someone whose humor and love of song could light a room and whose fondness for poetry added gentle thoughtfulness to his company.

Dan is survived by his brothers James J. Dowd III, David E. Dowd and Timothy W. Dowd, as well as nieces and nephews who carried forward family ties across Massachusetts and beyond. His life was honored with calling hours on February 16, 2017, and a Mass of Christian Burial on February 17, 2017, at the Chapel of St. Jerome Church in Holyoke; burial was private. In lieu of flowers the family requested memorial contributions to The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

Though words can only offer a small comfort, Dan’s memory lives on in the music he loved, the poems he cherished, and the laughter he shared. He will be remembered by those who knew him as a gentle, creative spirit whose presence enriched the lives of others.