Dear Water Polo Friends:

Listed below is Garrin Kapecki's message and Funeral Information for Dan.  If you are within the Chicagoland area and receive this e-mail, please try to attend either the Wake or the Funeral.

I had the privilege of playing with Dan's brothers, Larry (current coach of Mother McAuley) and Tommy while at Loyola University from 1976 - 79. 

I remember watching Dan play in the Catholic League Championships at the Loyola University Pool when he was a freshman at Brother Rice.  The person who I was with (don't remember who it was) commented to me that he would be something special because he was only a freshman and was already the top player in our Illinois High School system.

When I started coaching at Northwestern, Dan was a star at Loyola University and a force no one could stop (in the Midwest, East Coast or West Coast).  I looked at him play and thought that he had a real chance to be an Olympic Water Polo Player who was not from California.  After school, Dan moved to California to fulfill his dream of playing on the Olympic Team.  He sacrificed hours, days and weeks like all Olympic Athletes in our sport do for little to no money just for that one shot at playing for your country and your sport in the Olympics.  Unfortunately, he was the last player cut before the Olympic team was announced.  At that time, I was the Midwest Zone Chair in my second term of office and first year as the ISA Water Polo Chair.  I was crushed to watch a player of his caliber work so hard to be cut in the end.  He deserved better.  I never heard him complain about the final decision.  He accepted it and moved on.

I feel very fortunate to have known him.  In reviewing the attached internet article on this untimely death, I couldn't help but read the comments of the people who knew Dan, not as a water polo athlete but as a friend, comment about him.  I'll always remember Dan for his smile, personality and determination to always be a winner.  Please try to join his family on Sunday and/or Monday to help celebrate his life and contributions to Illinois and Midwest Water Polo.

Sincerely,

Rick Marsh,

Midwest Water Polo Chair

http://www.ocregister.com/news/driver-vehicle-injuries-1768467-lost-control 

As you may know, Dan O'Connell past away last weekend from a car crash in California.  I believe he was 43.

Dan was in my opinion the best water polo player to come out of the Chicago area.  After being a superstar at Brother Rice and Loyola U, he played for many years on the national team.  In addition, he and I played together for over 10 years at the New York Athletic Club...and I can attest to his huge competitiveness and pure talent.  He was a great friend.

See the info below about his wake and funeral arrangements.

Please pass this on to anyone who may be interested.

Garrin

A wake and funeral mass will be held for Dan O'Connell in his home town, the South Side of Chicago, this weekend. The details are as follows:

Dan will be waked at Andrew J. McGann & Son Funeral Home from 3-9PM on Sunday, July 22nd.

10727 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, IL

ph: 773-783-7700

The funeral mass will be at St. Mary's Star of the Sea Church, on Monday, July 23rd at 10:30AM.

6435 South Kilbourn Avenue, Chicago, Il

ph: 773-767-1246

The church is a 15-20 minute drive from the funeral home.

The burial is at St. Mary's Cemetery, which is about 20 minutes from the church.

Some additional details:

If anyone is planning to attend the services it is best to fly into Midway Airport rather than O'Hare. There is a Double Tree Hotel on the South Side and a Hilton Hotel in Oak Lawn.

The florist connected with the funeral home is Hillside Florist: 773-779-6033.