Obituary for Maj. Daniel P. Van Grol III ("Opa")

Major Daniel Peter Van Grol III of the USMC crossed over from this life peacefully on Friday, September 9 th on Carmel Mountain Ranch, San Diego, after successfully executing one last mission: surviving Covid and returning home from a long hospital stay this summer.

Born 86 years ago on April 1, 1936 in Rochester NY, Daniel is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Diane Mae Van Grol; five sons Daniel (Vicki) Van Grol (Cafasso); David (Terri) Van Grol; Doug (Kathy) Van Grol; Dennis (Laurie) Van Grol and Derrick (Tom) Van Grol (DeBlase); 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren; his sisters Diana McDonald; Caroline Maloney; Elise Van Grol; and brothers Richard (Jeanne) Van Grol; Jesse (Michelle) Van Grol; and many nephews, nieces, cousins, and friends.

Daniel P. Van Grol joined the Marine Corp as a Private at the tender age of 17 years old. He served two terms in Vietnam followed by multiple deployments to Japan, and was bestowed 12 promotions before retiring at the rank of Major, making him a "Mustang." His Marine Corp Sabre always hung in a place of honor at the family's many homes over the course of his military career, from Quantico VA, to Camp Pendleton CA, to Camp Lejune NC, to Albany GA, to Dale City VA, to Fountain Valley CA, to Bethesda MD, to Pavilion NY, and finally to San Diego.

As a young father, Daniel made a contract with all five of his sons: Don't smoke, don't play with fire, and go to college. In return he would buy his boy's a car upon their high school graduation. Because he didn't have a higher education himself, after retiring from the Marine Corp at the age of 38, Daniel was accepted at SUNY Geneseo on the merits of his OTC scores. He was reinventing himself at the midpoint of his life, completing his Bachelor of Science in four years. He was a "city boy from Hickory Street" turned college student living out in the country. "It's a wonder I didn't lose a finger," he often said with a grin. A former Marine officer turned little league baseball coach, he was celebrated in Pavilion NY for never losing a game he coached for a dynasty of six seasons. His tenets as a coach were you never spoke negatively of your teammates, and (if you got hurt fielding a ball,) you always said "ouch!" after you made the play. He was easy to spot with black baseball cap adorned with a single golden oak leaf commiserate of his rank.

After achieving his college degree, he would become a successful branch manager at Computer Task Group (CTG) in Rochester, then Boston and then LA before becoming an entrepreneur. As a goal oriented man, he dove into entrepreneurship and built a million dollar importing business, which is still in operation today and being run by his grandson.

He volunteered his time later in life to the Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol with the charter to check in on widowers and the elderly who live alone. A duty he enjoyed very much. In his spare time, if he wasn't running the ponies at DelMar, then he was taking on the Poker circuit—for which he was a noteworthy contender and tournament winner at Indigenous-operated casinos around San Diego.

He was promoted to "Opa" as the family Patriarch and enjoyed his time as a grandfather, great-grandfather and husband. "We're making memories here!" Opa liked to say this on special occasions. Everyone who knew him knows he was never a gossip or a bore, and only had kind words to share, and positive stories to tell. His spirit was full of wisdom, generosity, and mirth. Memories that will live like diamonds in all our minds whenever we reflect on him.

Visitation services will be held on Monday September 26th from 4-8pm at Poway-Bernardo Mortuary at 13243 Poway Road, Poway CA 92064.
Burial will be held on Tuesday September 27th at 1:30 pm at Miramar National Cemetery with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Maj. Daniel P. Van Grol III USMC can be made to:The American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org .
Or to the "Final Honor" carriage services at Miramar National Cemetery by calling 760-445-1981.