Daniel Michael Mahon's Obituary
Daniel Michael Mahon passed away at 7:54 am on Monday, September 27, 2021. Born on October 2, 1962, he was a young and healthy 58.
In the last few years, and besides family and friends, Danny had two passions: cycling and Fig (short for Figaro), his long-haired German Shepherd. His final day with us was full of these things: he finished a century race in under five hours; went out for dinner with his mother; completed his daily ritual of walking the dog; and relaxed, before suffering a heart attack in his sleep and leaving us painlessly.
Danny would have turned 59 next week, and in the next month he would have completed two more long rides, one 200 miles in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the other 135 miles on Kansas dirt and gravel. He and his wife Lisa were also due for a date night to celebrate making the final payment on their home.
Danny is survived by the many members of his immediate family: his parents, Robert and Judy, who recently moved to Fredericksburg, and his seven brothers and two sisters: Sean, Patrick, Terrence, Tim, Kelly, Rob, Brendan, Bryan, and Liz.
Danny also has an uncountable number of extended relations, best friends-slash-honorary “uncles,” riding pals, and work associates, many of whom dropped everything and traveled across the country to be with him or comfort his family, a service that felt natural because they knew he would have done the same for them.
The size of Danny’s family corresponds to the love he had for his wife and children, whom he selflessly supported. Danny married Lisa Ann Sheehan on November 9, 1991, and together they challenged each other to become even better people, which they did. Their relationship emphasized Lisa’s absolute strength and generosity, which she will continue to spread to those around her. Griffin Michael, Spencer Claire, and Grace Kennedy will live their lives carrying with them these characteristics that Danny encouraged. Fig also has an older brother, Tucker, a blonde Yorkie-Poo -- much smaller, but the real man in the house.
Dan began his career working for his father in the family’s tire stores. He remained in the profession of sales and sales leadership throughout his life, initially at Merisel, and then at Bay Bridge Decision Technologies, where he was a founding employee and Vice President of Sales. He became a subject matter expert for contact center software firms and later worked at Interactive Intelligence, Genesys, and NICE Systems. Dan’s true measure of success in his professional life was trying to bring out the best in everyone he worked with. Seeing people grow in their own careers brought him true joy.
A former runner, Danny took up cycling to get in shape so that he could live an active life into old age. He never wanted to live without being able to move, which he accomplished. As his hobby turned into a craving, he took silent satisfaction in getting faster and faster and riding with younger and younger people. When he realized that he had topped out his abilities as an amateur, he turned to brutal, day-long, off-road events.
Danny loved “the hurt locker” and beating himself up. He often said that he wished he could only ever ride uphill. The qualities he developed and relied upon as an athlete were also the reasons we all loved him and why we will miss him: Danny was disciplined and humble and attacked everything that he undertook.
Dan was a great guy. He was an amazing husband, father, and friend to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.
A memorial mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, October 1, 2021 at St. Jude Catholic Church, 9600 Caritas Street, Fredericksburg. Danny’s family will receive friends following the service from 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. at Found and Sons Funeral Chapel, 10719 Courthouse Road, Fredericksburg, VA
In the place of flowers or gifts, he asks that you instead consider donating to Project Bike Love, https://projectbikelove.givingfuel.com/dan-mahon-memorial?fbclid=IwAR0S9dEl9-KJKf8mz1ZWmgLPApyTzLSmnxtQAGbERMamKWq1xpqi7Yuxsro a charity that provides bicycles to Indigenous women and children in Paraguay, Arizona, and Mexico.
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