Shortly after Dad's death, I found a note written by my daughter, Lily (age 10):

"Things Gampy says to me:
- I like your shirt.
- Tell your mom to slow down.
- I have to go visit your cousins."

 

Originally published at the Shaker Heights High School Memorial page:

The news of Warren Daane's death hit me like a thunderbolt.  Having played with Warren on Shaker's tennis team for 3 years and facing him once in college, I understood how much tennis meant to him and what great shape he was in while playing tennis.  We spent a lot of time together on the tennis court our senior year in a quest to win the state doubles title - a quest that fell one match short but was a great memory for me.  The last time I saw Warren was in 1990 when I accidentally bumped into him as we were delivering our freshman daughters to the same dormitory at the University of Notre Dame - talk about a small world!  Warren was certainly the best tennis player to come out of Shaker in a long time and it brought a smile to my face to read how he continued to enjoy to play the sport throughout his life.   He died too soon.  May he rest in peace. 

Warren died June 11, 2015, in Oakland, Calif., where he had lived for many years.

The son of G. Warren Daane 1932 and Mavis Daane, Warren came to us from Shaker Heights (Ohio) High School. He and Clark Graebner, a future Davis Cup winner, won the Boys Doubles National Championship in high school, along with a number of other tennis titles in the United States and Canada.

Warren was tennis captain senior year and played for all four years on our highly ranked team. He majored in history and wrote his thesis on “Tom Johnson and His Fight for Three-Cent Fare.” Warren took his meals at Charter and roomed with John Shirk and Jeff Gorin, who remained lifelong friends.

Thereafter he moved to the Bay Area and had a successful career, first at Crocker Bank and then at his own firm as a mortgage banker. Warren never lost his love of or skills in tennis, and was club president of the Berkeley Tennis Club and was twice named “Member of the Year.”

He is survived by his son, David; daughters Maria Daane and Megan Daane Lawrence; brothers Charles Daane ’74 and Robert Daane; six grandchildren; and his life partner, Eileen Ingenthron.

For Dad's 60th birthday, a poster was put up at the Berkeley Tennis Club for members to sign and then later brought to my house for his surprise birthday party. Below are the quotes and well wishes from friends and family (roughly in clockwise order). Photo is with Barry Baskin and Myron Myskovitz.

"Warren, congratulations on maing it to 60. Keep on playing and having a good life. David & Elaine Chandler"

"Warren, Happy 60th. Cheers. Joe"

"Warren, You are special. Fonndly, Elizabeth"

"Dad, we love you! Thanks for making the last 32 years so great! Megan" 

"Happy Birthday Chief! I'm glad to be here and to celebrate your birthdy. Your pal, Trace."

"Warren, You old schemer you backroom extraordinare! I am on to you, but you know that because you know all, don't you? Now you must graduate to the big leagues. Politics is for you Warren. I can see you how with your entire disposition making the deal! Happy B-Day (friend of blue eyes!)."

"Warren, We being included in your celebration, you have a lot to be grateful for! Here's to many more years.  Hans & Kathie."

"Warren, I am glad you finally made it to "my" decade!" Claudia"

"Warren, Always so nice to see you!!! Love, Peggy K."

"Happy 60th Warren - you still could pass for 59. Pat Blancher"

"Warren, And you don't look a day over 61. All the best. Leetham"

"Warren, Happy 60th you old cracker! Love, Dave"

"Warren, I'm glad to write "Happy Birthday" in your favorite color of the world..."muddy apricott." Love, Lynea"

"Warren, Are you sure it's not 70? Steve Languaisd"

"Happy Birthday Pop! Love, Maria"
"Hey Warren -- Happy Birthday and manny happy tennis matches to come! - Elaine (Chandler) XXOO"

"Warren, you beat me by a few months. I'm watching carefully. Enjoy your special day. Happy Birthday. Susan Baskin"

"Happy Birthday Warren, your old doubles partner, Myron"

"Warren, you're gaining on me. Adolpho"

"Happy 60th Birthday. So glad we could share your special day. Can't believe it! 43 years since you had to show me how to return serve on clay. Hopefully you'll get another chance!! Barry Baskin"

"Happy Birthday to a friend of 30 years. Peng Van Etten"

"Warren, Happ "B" Day. I would never have guessed that you were 60. Keep up the hard work in the gym and keep that body youthful. John Sullivan"

"Warren - Happy 60th. Thanks for helping to bring back some good traditions at the BTC. Regards and Best Wishes, Steve Cornell."

"To the guy with the heart of a tiger and a perfect forehand, All the best. Sue Woodward."

"Warren, Happy B-Day from your exercise room friend. Paul"

"Warren, I await the sly crosscut forehand return. Mary's is also 5/13 but a bit later in the century. Let's have a drink soon. Thanks for the excellent refi help. Ken Stolz & Olivia & Mary"

"Warren, Happy Birthday! 2 count in June to get the TV storms fairly early for exercise. Karen Farwitter"                                 

Thank you so much for this wonderful picture which quite literally brings tears to my eyes. It was one such an honor and a privilege to have known Warren and to have shared in his care. He was a person who restores one's faith in humanity and whose opinion on any subject I  listened to very carefully.  His quiet humor, decency, and strength  of character brought calm into my life whenever I met him. The picture captures that calm and I am very grateful for your kindness in sending it to me. I send my sincerest condolences to you and to all Warren's family and know that I, like you, will never forget him,

I snapped this picture of Warren in the lobby of the Berkeley Tennis Club about a month before he passed away. It was his favorite perch, the couch overlooking the BTC courts. I only had the privlege of knowing Warren for the past year, but he made a lasting impression. He went out of his way to encourage and inform me in my first year at the club.  I loved our interaction and they way he proded people for answers. All the BTC staff were sad to lose him. Somewhere, he is watching the Cleveland Browns and Cavaliers, and hopefully they will (eventually) come through for him.
Thank you, Warren!

Paul Torricelli
General Manager
Berkeley Tennis Club

Warren Daane.jpg (302.95KB)

Thirty-eight years after wrapping up freshman year in college, we four buddies celebrated our post-graduation 35th Reunion on the Princeton campus. As you can see, we haven't changed much during those almost four decades! L-to-R: Jeff, Warren, Steve, John. Compare to our freshman group photo below.

Warren and Eileen enjoyed mixing with long-time friends at this gala weekend-long event on our college campus in New Jersey. Sadly, this was the final major campus reunion he was physically able to attend.

Bob Duncan was a great friend and college classmate of Warren and me. The proximity of Bob's and wife Linda's home to the Princeton campus in New Jersey resulted in their kind invitation to both of us to spend a night at the Duncan homestead before we all departed to attend our 40th Reunion weekend activities on campus. 

During one of my infrequent visits to the Bay Area, Warren thoughtfully arranged that Megan and David meet us for luncheon in San Francisco, not far from their office locations. The photo reminds me of Warren as a caring father. 

While visiting northern California this past December, I arranged to meet Warren and Eileen for luncheon at a lovely restaurant by Marina Bay in Richmond. My photo captured following our meal is quite special to me, as it memorializes the final time I was able to visit in person with both of these long-time friends. 

These four Princeton freshmen “suite-mates” dressed up to go out to dinner as guests of Jeff''s parents during their brief visit to the campus. L-to-R: Steve (partially hidden), John, Warren, Jeff

This photo, snapped by my parents on our Princeton graduation day in June 1965, shows our group of close friends. Immediately in front of Warren, with arms crossed slightly to his left, is C.D. Smith, who competed with Warren to be captain of the Princeton tennis team our senior year. Though both had similar accomplishments and skills, Warren was named captain … which was quite an honor.