“Dan Hungerford was a private man, and he did not expect accolades for his generosity,” remembers Dan’s old friend and neighbor Nancy D. “I think if you asked him why he gave so generously to Meals on Wheels Diablo Region (MOWDR) and other organizations, he would simply say that it was the right thing to do.”
Dan made a big difference in seniors’ lives. He grew up during the Great Depression and knew what it meant to go without. He did not want others to experience the agony of going without food and as a result was a regular supporter of MOWDR’s various programs for over twenty years. Sadly, Dan passed away late last year at the age of 93. His quiet generosity and commitment to enhancing the quality of life for seniors knew no boundaries, and as a final gesture he left a generous legacy gift to Meals on Wheels Diablo Region.
Susannah Meyer, MOWDR's Community Engagement Director, visited with him before his death, and even in a frail state Dan was pleased to hear examples of how his contributions were making a difference. He asked about MOWDR program advancements, our East County presence, and the latest available studies about the needs of seniors. “Knowing that he was ill, I had only planned on staying a few minutes, but we ended up talking for more than an hour and a half. We held hands and he talked about his life, his love for his wife, Fay, and his military career. During this time, he drifted in and out of sleep, but when he was awake he was really connected and asked me to stay longer and talk," Susannah remembers.
During the visit, Dan related that his father signed the paperwork to allow him to enlist in the Navy though he was under age. He served honorably for three years as an aviation machinist and earned his Engineering degree after he was discharged. He met his wife, who he called ‘Fanny,’ while working for the State of California. Before her death in 2016, the happy couple traveled to every continent except Antarctica.
Dan’s commitment to seniors was not limited to his support of MOWDR. After he retired in 1989 from East Bay Municipal Utilities District (EBMUD), Dan represented his fellow retirees as a member of the Retirement Board and was instrumental in ensuring that future EBMUD retirees enjoy a secure and generous retirement package. Dan participated in other organizations, including Sons in Retirement, the Navy League, and the CAL Alumni Association. He was also a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Please join us in remembering our friend, Dan Hungerford. His legacy as a generous humanitarian lives on daily through the seniors whose lives have been made measurably better through his contributions.
We could not sustain the work we do for seniors without the benefaction of donors like Dan Hungerford and the over one thousand volunteers we work with. If you would like to learn more about leaving a legacy gift for seniors and Meals on Wheels Diablo Region in your will, please contact Erica Marcus atemarcus@mowdr.org or 925. 925.937.8315. To learn more about the many ways to donate to MOWDR please click here.
